fti 


THE  ALHAMBRA 


Cfyomas  £.  Cromell  &  Co. 
Hen?  IJorfc  anb  Boston. 


THE    ALHAMBRA. 


BY 

WASHINGTON  IRVING. 


REVISED    EDITION. 


NEW  YORK:  46  EAST  14xn  STREET. 

THOMAS    Y.    CROWELL    &    CO. 

BOSTON:  100  PURCHASE  STREET. 


1% 


PREFACE  TO  THE  REVISED  EDITION. 


ROUGH  draughts  of  some  of  the  following  tales  and  essays, 
were  actually  written  during  a  residence  in  the  Alhambra ; 
others  were  subsequently  added,  founded  on  notes  and  obser 
vations  made  there.  Care  was  taken  to  maintain  local  coloring 
and  verisimilitude ;  so  that  the  whole  might  present  a  faithful 
and  living  picture  of  that  microcosm,  that  singular  little 
world  into  which  I  had  been  fortuitously  thrown  ;  and 
about  which  the  external  world  had  a  very  imperfect  idea. 
It  was  my  endeavor  scrupulously  to  depict  its  half  Span 
ish  half  Oriental  character ;  its  mixture  of  the  heroic, 
the  poetic,  and  the  grotesque  ;  to  revive  the  traces  of  grace 
and  beauty  fast  fading  from  its  walls ;  to  record  the  regal  and 
chivalrous  traditions  concei-ning  those  who  once  trod  its 
courts ;  and  the  whimsical  and  superstitious  legends  of  the 
motley  race  now  burrowing  among  its  ruins. 

The  papers  thus  roughly  sketched  out  lay  for  three  or  four 
years  in  my  portfolio,  until  I  found  myself  in  London,  in  1832, 
on  the  eve  of  returning  to  the  United  States.  I  then  endeav 
ored  to  arrange  them  for  the  press,  but  the  preparations  for 
departure  did  not  allow  sufficient  leisure.  Several  were 
thrown  aside  as  incomplete ;  the  rest  were  put  together  some 
what  hastily  and  in  rather  a  crude  and  chaotic  manner. 

In  the  present  edition  I  have  revised  and  re-arranged  the 
whole  work,  enlarged  some  parts,  and  added  others,  including 
the  papers  originally  omitted ;  and  have  thus  endeavored  to 
render  it  more  complete  and  more  worthy  of  the  indulgent 
reception  with  which  it  has  been  favored. 

W.  I. 

SUNNYSLUK,  185*. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

THE  JOURNEY 7 

PALACE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA 31 

IMPORTANT  NEGOTIATIONS.  —  THE  AUTHOR  SUCCEEDS  TO  THE 

THRONE  OF  BOABDIL 41 

INHABITANTS  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA 47 

THE  HALL  OF  AMBASSADORS 60 

THE  JESUITS'  LIBRARY 54 

ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA 55 

YUSKF  ABUL  HAGIG,  THE  FINISHER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA  ...  60 

THE  MYSTERIOUS  CHAMBERS 63 

PANORAMA  FROM  THE  TOWER  OF  COMARKS 70 

THE  TRUANT 75 

THE  BALCONY 77 

THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  MASON 82 

THE  COURT  OF  LIONS 85 

THE  ABENCEKRAGES 90 

MEMENTOS  OF  BOABDIL 99 

PUBLIC  FETES  OF  GRANADA 103 

LOCAL  TRADITIONS 109 

THE  HOUSE  OF  THE  WEATHERCOCK Ill 

LEGEND  OF  THE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER 113 

VISITORS  TO  THE  ALHAMBRA 128 

RELICS  AND  GENEALOGIES 131 

THE  GEXERALIFE 133 

LEGEND   OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL,  OR  THE  PILGRIM  OF 

LOVE 135 

5 


C  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

A  RAMBLE  AMONG  THE  HILLS 159 

LEGEND  OF  THE  Mooit's  LEGACY 166 

THE  TOWKK  OF  LAS  INFANTAS 182 

LEGEND  OF  THE  THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES 183 

LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA 202 

THE  VETERAN      214 

THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY 216 

GOVERNOR  MANGO  AND  THE  SOLDIER 221 

A  FISTE  IN  THE  ALHAMBRA 235 

LEGEND  OF  THE  Two  DISCREET  STATUES 238 

THE  CRUSADE  OF  THE  GRAND  MASTER  OF  ALCANTARA   .     .     .  252 

SPANISH  ROMANCE 258 

LEGEND  OF  DON  MUNIO  SANCIIO  DE  HINOJOSA 260 

POETS  AND  POKTRY  OF  MOSLEM  ANDALUS 265 

AN  EXPEDITION  IN  QUEST  OF  A  DIPLOMA 271 

THE  LEGEND  OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SOLDIER 273 

THE  AUTHOR'S  FAREWELL  TO  GRANADA  .     , ,    .  284 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

THE  COURT  OF  LIONS Front. 

PORTRAIT  OF  WASHINGTON  IRVING       ....  Title. 

SPANISH  GYPSEY     .         . 12 

THE  ALHAMBRA  FROM  THE  GENERALIFE      ...  30 

PALACE  OF  CHARLES  THE  FIFTH 36 

HALL  OF  THE  Two  SISTERS  ......  40 

ENTRANCE  TO  THE  HALL  OF  AMBASSADORS          .        .  50 

INTERIOR  OF  MOSQUE 62 

COLONNADE  IN  THE  COURT  OF  THE  ALBERCA       .         .  70 

FOUNTAIN  OF  LIONS 74 

IN  THE  COURT  OF  LIONS       .                         ...  85 

HALL  OF  THE  ABENCERRAGES 94 

PORTRAIT  OF  CHARLES  V.  BY  TITIAN  ,  102 

THE  GATE  OF  JUSTICE 127 

THE  GENERALIFE 133 

SEVILLE 146 

TOLEDO    .        .        .        .    . .158 

TOWER  OF  THE  PRINCESSES   ...                 .        .  190 

THE  GENERALIFE  FROM  THE  ALHAMBRA      ,         .         .  203 

HALL  OF  AMBASSADORS 237 

TOWER  OF  COMARES 244 

GENERAL  VIEW  OF  GRANADA 284 

THE  ALHAMBRA. 


THE    ALHAMBRA. 


A  SERIES  OF  TALES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  THE 
MOORS  AND  SPANIARDS. 


THE   JOUKTOY. 

IN  the  spring  of  1829,  the  author  of  this  work,  whom  curi 
osity  had  brought  into  Spain,  made  a  rambling  expedition 
from  Seville  to  Granada  in  company  with  a  friend,  a  member 
of  the  Kussian  Embassy  at  Madrid.  Accident  had  thrown  us 
together  from  distant  regions  of  the  globe,  and  a  similarity  of 
taste  led  us  to  wander  together  among  the  romantic  mountains 
of  Andalusia.  Should  these  pages  meet  his  eye,  wherever 
thrown  by  the  duties  of  his  station,  whether  mingling  in  the 
pageantry  of  courts,  or  meditating  on  the  truer  glories  of 
nature,  may  they  recall  the  scenes  of  our  adventurous  com 
panionship,  and  with  them  the  recollection  of  one,  in  whom 
neither  time  nor  distance  will  obliterate  the  remembrance  of 
his  gentleness  and  worth.1 

And  here,  before  setting  forth,  let  nie  indulge  in  a  few 
previous  remarks  on  Spanish  scenery  and  Spanish  travelling. 
Many  are  apt  to  picture  Spain  to  their  imaginations  as  a  soft 
southern  region,  decked  out  with  the  luxuriant  charms  of  vo 
luptuous  Italy.  On  the  contrary,  though  there  are  exceptions 
in  some  of  the  maritime  provinces,  yet,  for  the  greater  part, 
it  is  a  stern,  melancholy  country,  with  rugged  mountains,  and 


1  Note  to  the  Revise'!  Edition.  —  Tho  Author  feels  at  liberty  to  mention  that  his 
travelling  companion  was  the  Prince  Dolgorouki,  at  present  Kussian  minister  at  the 
Court  of  Persia. 


8  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

long  sweeping  plains,  destitute  of  trees,  and  indescribably 
silent  and  lonesome,  partaking  of  the  savage  and  solitary 
character  of  Africa.  What  adds  to  this  silence  and  loneliness, 
is  the  absence  of  singing  birds,  a  natural  consequence  of  the 
want  of  groves  and  hedges.  The  vulture  and  the  eagle  are 
seen  wheeling  about  the  mountain-cliffs,  and  soaring  over  the 
plains,  and  groups  of  shy  bustards  stalk  about  the  heaths ; 
but  the  myriads  of  smaller  birds,  which  animate  the  whole 
face  of  other  countries,  are  met  with  in  but  few  provinces  in 
Spain,  and  in  those  chiefly  among  the  orchards  and  gardens 
which  surround  the  habitations  of  man. 

In  the  interior  provinces  the  traveller  occasionally  traverses 
great  tracts  cultivated  with  grain  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach, 
waving  at  times  with  verdure,  at  other  times  naked  and  sun 
burnt,  but  he  looks  around  in  vain  for  the  hand  that  has  tilled 
the  soil.  At  length,  he  perceives  some  village  on  a  steep  hill, 
or  rugged  crag,  with  mouldering  battlements  and  ruined  watch- 
tower  ;  a  stronghold,  in  old  times,  against  civil  war,  or  Moorish 
inroad ;  for  the  custom  among  the  peasantry  of  congregating 
together  for  mutual  protection  is  still  kept  up  in  most  parts  of 
Spain,  in  consequence  of  the  maraudings  of  roving  free 
booters. 

But  though  a  great  part  of  Spain  is  deficient  in  the  garni 
ture  of  groves  and  forests,  and  the  softer  charms  of  orna 
mental  cultivation,  yet  its  scenery  is  noble  in  its  severity,  and 
in  unison  with  the  attributes  of  its  people ;  and  I  think  that 
I  better  understand  the  proud,  hardy,  frugal  and  abstemious 
Spaniard,  his  manly  defiance  of  hardships,  and  contempt  of 
effeminate  indulgences,  since  I  have  seen  the  country  he 
inhabits. 

There  is  something  too,  in  the  sternly  simple  features  of 
the  Spanish  landscape,  that  impresses  on  the  soul  a  feeling 
of  sublimity.  The  immense  plains  of  the  Castiles  and  of  La 
Mancha,  extending  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  derive  an 
interest  from  their  very  nakedness  and  immensity,  and  pos 
sess,  in  some  degree,  the  solemn  grandeur  of  the  ocean.  In 
ranging  over  these  boundless  wastes,  the  eye  catches  sight 
here  and  there  of  a  straggling  herd  of  cattle  attended  by  a 
lonely  herdsman,  motionless  as  a  statue,  with  his  long  slender 
pike  tapering  up  like  a  lance  into  the  air  ;  or,  beholds  a  long 
train  of  mules  slowly  moving  along  the  waste  like  a  train  of 
camels  in  the  desert ;  or,  a  single  horseman,  armed  with 
blunderbuss  and  stiletto,  and  prowling  over  the  plain.  Thus 
the  country,  the  habits,  the  very  looks  of  the  people,  have 


THE  JOURNEY.  9 

something  of  the  Arabian  character.  The  general  insecurity 
of  the  country  is  evinced  in  the  universal  use  of  weapons. 
The  herdsman  in  the  field,  the  shepherd  in  the  plain,  has 
his  musket  and  his  knife.  The  wealthy  villager  rarely  ven 
tures  to  the  market-town  without  his  trabuco,  and,  perhaps,  a 
servant  on  foot  with  a  blunderbuss  on  his  shoulder ;  and  the 
most  petty  journey  is  undertaken  with  the  preparation  of  a 
warlike  enterprise. 

The  dangers  of  the  road  produce  also  a  mode  of  travelling, 
resembling,  on  a  diminutive  scale,  the  caravans  of  the  East. 
The  arrieros,  or  carriers,  congregate  in  convoys,  and  set  off 
in  large  and  well-armed  trains  on  appointed  days ;  while 
additional  travellers  swell  their  number,  and  contribute  to 
their  strength.  In  this  primitive  way  is  the  commerce  of 
the  country  carried  on.  The  muleteer  is  the  general  medium 
of  traffic,  and  the  legitimate  traverser  of  the  land,  crossing 
the  peninsula  from  the  Pyrenees  and  the  Asturias  to  the 
Alpuxarras,  the  Serrania  de  Ronda,  and  even  to  the  gates 
of  Gibraltar.  He  lives  frugally  and  hardily :  his  alforjas  of 
coarse  cloth  hold  his  scanty  stock  of  provisions ;  a  leathern 
bottle,  hanging  at  his  saddle-bow,  contains  wine  or  water,  for 
a  supply  across  barren  mountains  and  thirsty  plains  ;  a  mule- 
cloth  spread  upon  the  ground  is  his  bed  at  night,  and  his 
pack-saddle  his  pillow.  His  low,  but  clean-limbed  and  sinewy 
form  betokens  strength ;  his  complexion  is  dark  and  sun 
burnt  ;  his  eye  resolute,  but  quiet  in  its  expression,  except 
when  kindled  by  sudden  emotion  ;  his  demeanor  is  frank, 
manly,  and  courteous,  and  he  never  passes  you  without  a 
grave  salutation.  "  Dios  guarde  a  usted  !  "  "  Va  usted  con 
Dios,  Caballero  ! "  "  God  guard  you  !  "  "  God  be  with  you, 
Cavalier ! " 

As  these  men  have  often  their  whole  fortune  at  stake  upon 
the  burden  of  their  mules,  they  have  their  weapons  at  hand, 
slung  to  their  saddles,  and  ready  to  be  snatched  out  for 
desperate  defence  ;  but  their  united  numbers  render  them  secure 
against  petty  bands  of  marauders,  and  the  solitary  bandolero, 
armed  to  the  teeth,  and  mounted  on  his  Andalusian  steed, 
hovers  about  them,  like  a  pirate  about  a  merchant  convoy, 
without  daring  to  assault. 

The  Spanish  muleteer  has  an  inexhaustible  stock  of  songs 
and  ballads,  with  which  to  beguile  his  incessant  wayfaring. 
The  airs  are  rude  and  simple,  consisting  of  but  few  in 
flections.  These  he  chants  forth  with  a  loud  voice,  and  long, 
drawling  cadence,  seated  sideways  on  his  mule,  who  seems  to 


10  TEE  ALHAMBRA. 

listen  with  infinite  gravity,  and  to  keep  time  with  his  paces 
to  the  tune.  The  couplets  thus  chanted,  are  often  old  tradi 
tional  romances  about  the  Moors,  or  some  legend  of  a  saint, 
or  some  love-ditty;  or,  what  is  still  more  frequent,  some 
ballad  about  a  bold  contrabandista,  or  hardy  bandolero,  for 
the  smuggler  and  the  robber  are  poetical  heroes  among  the 
common  people  of  Spain.  Often,  the  song  of  the  muleteer  is 
composed  at  the  instant,  and  relates  to  some  local  scene,  or 
some  incident  of  the  journey.  This  talent  of  singing  and  im 
provising  is  frequent  in  Spain,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
inherited  from  the  Moors.  There  is  something  wildly  pleas 
ing  in  listening  to  these  ditties  among  the  rude  and  lonely 
scenes  they  illustrate ;  accompanied,  as  they  are,  by  the 
occasional  jingle  of  the  mule-bell. 

It  has  a  most  picturesque  effect  also  to  meet  a  train  of 
muleteers  in  some  mountain-pass.  First  you  hear  the  bells 
of  the  leading  mules,  breaking  with  their  simple  melody  the 
stillness  of  the  airy  height;  or,  perhaps,  the  voice  of  the 
muleteer  admonishing  some  tardy  or  wandering  animal,  or 
chanting,  at  the  full  stretch  of  his  lungs,  some  traditionary 
ballad.  At  length  you  see  the  mules  slowly  winding  along 
the  cragged  defile,  sometimes  descending  precipitous  cliffs, 
so  as  to  present  themselves  in  full  relief  against  the  sky, 
sometimes  toiling  up  the  deep  arid  chasms  below  you.  As 
they  approach,  you  descry  their  gay  decorations  of  worsted 
stuffs,  tassels,  and  saddle-cloths,  while,  as  they  pass  by,  the 
ever-ready  trabuco,  slung  behind  the  packs  and  saddles,  gives 
a  hint  of  the  insecurity  of  the  road. 

The  ancient  kingdom  of  Granada,  into  which  we  were 
about  to  penetrate,  is  one  of  the  most  mountainous  regions 
of  Spain.  Vast  sierras,  or  chains  of  mountains,  destitute  of 
shrub  or  tree,  and  mottled  witli  variegated  marbles  and 
granites,  elevate  their  sunburnt  summits  against  a  deep-blue 
sky  ;  yet  in  their  rugged  bosoms  lie  ingulfed  verdant  and 
fertile  valleys,  where  the  desert  and  the  garden  strive  for 
mastery,  and  the  very  rock  is,  as  it  were,  compelled  to  yield 
the  fig,  the  orange,  and  the  citron,  and  to  blossom  with  the 
myrtle  and  the  rose. 

In  the  wild  passes  of  these  mountains  the  sight  of  walled 
towns  and  villages,  built  like  eagles'  nests  among  the  cliffs, 
and  surrounded  by  Moorish  battlements,  or  of  ruined  watch- 
towers  perched  on  lofty  peaks,  carries  the  mind  back  to 
the  chivalric  days  of  Christian  and  Moslem  warfare,  and  to  the 
romantic  struggle  for  the  conquest  of  Granada.  In  travers- 


THE  JOURNEY.  11 

ing  these  lofty  sierras  the  traveller  is  often  obliged  to  alight, 
and  lead  his  horse  up  and  down  the  steep  and  jagged  ascents 
and  descents,  resembling  the  broken  steps  of  a  staircase. 
Sometimes  the  road  winds  along  dizzy  precipices,  without 
parapet  to  guard  him  from  the  gulfs  below,  and  then  will 
plunge  down  steep,  and  dark,  and  dangerous  declivities. 
Sometimes  it  struggles  through  rugged  barrancos,  or  ravines, 
worn  by  winter  torrents,  the  obscure  path  of  the  contra- 
bandista ;  while,  ever  and  anon,  the  ominous  cross,  the  monu 
ment  of  robbery  and  murder,  erected  on  a  mound  of  stones  at 
some  lonely  part  of  the  road,  admonishes  the  traveller  that  he 
is  among  the  haunts  of  banditti,  perhaps  at  that  very  moment 
under  the  eye  of  some  lurking  bandolero.  Sometimes,  in 
winding  through  the  narrow  valleys,  he  is  startled  by  a  hoarse 
bellowing,  and  beholds  above  him  on  some  green  fold  of 
the  mountain  a  herd  of  fierce  Andalusian  bulls,  destined  for  the 
combat  of  the  arena.  I  have  felt,  if  I  may  so  express  it.  an 
agreeable  horror  in  thus  contemplating,  near  at  hand,  these 
terrific  animals,  clothed  with  tremendous  strength,  and  ran 
ging  their  native  pastures  in  untamed  wildness,  strangers 
almost  to  the  face  of  man  ;  they  know  no  one  but  the  solitary 
herdsman  who  attends  upon  them,  and  even  he  at  times  dares 
not  venture  to  approach  them.  The  low  bellowing  of  these 
bulls,  and  their  menacing  aspect  as  they  look  down  from  their 
rocky  height,  give  additional  wildness  to  the  savage  scenery. 

I  have  been  betrayed  unconsciously  into  a  longer  disquisi 
tion  than  I  intended  on  the  general  features  of  Spanish 
travelling ;  but  there  is  a  romance  about  all  the  recollections 
of  the  peninsula  dear  to  the  imagination. 

As  our  proposed  route  to  Granada  lay  through  mountainous 
regions,  where  the  roads  are  little  better  than  mule  paths,  and 
said  to  be  frequently  beset  by  robbers,  we  took  due  travelling 
precautions.  Forwarding  the  most  valuable  part  of  our  lug 
gage  a  day  or  two  in  advance  by  the  arrieros,  we  retained 
merely  clothing  and  necessaries  for  the  journey  and  money 
for  the  expenses  of  the  road  ;  with  a  little  surplus  of  hard 
dollars  by  way  of  robber  purse,  to  satisfy  the  gentlemen  of  the 
road  should  we  be  assailed.  Unlucky  is  the  too  wary  trav 
eller  who,  having  grudged  this  precaution,  falls  into  their 
clutches  empty  handed:  they  are  apt  to  give  him  a  sound 
ribroasting  for  cheating  them  out  of  their  dues.  "  Caballeros 
like  them  cannot  afford  to  scour  the  roads  and  risk  the  gallows 
for  nothing." 

A  couple  of  stout  steeds  were  provided  for  our  own  mount- 


12  THE  ALKAMBRA. 

ing,  and  a  third  for  our  scanty  luggage  and  the  conveyance  of 
a  sturdy  Biscayan  lad,  about  twenty  years  of  age,  who  was  to 
be  our  guide,  our  groom,  our  valet,  and  at  all  times  our  guard. 
For  the  latter  office  he  was  provided  with  a  formidable  trabu- 
co  or  carbine,  with  which  he  promised  to  defend  us  against 
rateros  or  solitary  footpads  ;  but  as  to  powerful  bands,  like 
that  of  the  "  sons  of  Ecija,"  he  confessed  they  were  quite 
beyond  his  prowess.  Pie  made  much  vainglorious  boast  about 
his  weapon  at  the  outset  of  the  journey ;  though,  to  the  dis 
credit  of  his  generalship,  it  was  suffered  to  hang  unloaded 
behind  his  saddle. 

According  to  our  stipulations,  the  man  from  whom  we  hired 
the  horses  was  to  be  at  the  expense  of  their  feed  and  stabling 
on  the  journey,  as  well  as  of  the  maintenance  of  our  Biscayan 
squire,  who  of  course  was  provided  with  funds  for  the  pur 
pose  ;  we  took  care,  however,  to  give  the  latter  a  private  hint, 
that,  though  we  made  a  close  bargain  with  his  master,  it  was 
all  in  his  favor,  as,  if  he  proved  a  good  man  and  true,  both  he 
and  the  horses  should  live  at  our  cost,  and  the  money  pro 
vided  for  their  maintenance  remain  in  his  pocket.  This  unex 
pected  largess,  with  the  occasional  present  of  a  cigar,  won  his 
heart  completely.  He  was,  in  truth,  a  faithful,  cheery,  kind- 
hearted  creature,  as  full  of  saws  and  proverbs  as  that  miracle 
of  squires,  the  renowned  Sancho  himself,  whose  name,  by-the- 
by,  we  bestowed  upon  him,  and  like  a  true  Spaniard,  though 
treated  by  us  with  companionable  familiarity,  he  never  for  a 
moment,  in  his  utmost  hilarity,  overstepped  the  bounds  of 
respectful  decorum. 

Such  were  our  minor  preparations  for  the  journey,  but 
above  all  we  laid  in  an  ample  stock  of  good-humor,  and  a  gen 
uine  disposition  to  be  pleased  ;  determining  to  travel  in  true 
contrabandista  style ;  taking  things  as  we  found  them,  rough 
or  smooth,  and  mingling  with  all  classes  and  conditions  in  a 
kind  of  vagabond  companionship.  It  is  the  true  way  to  travel 
in  Spain.  With  such  disposition  and  determination,  what  a 
country  is  it  for  a  traveller,  where  the  most  miserable  inn  is 
as  full  of  adventure. as  an  enchanted  castle,  and  every  meal 
is  in  itself  an  achievement !  Let  others  repine  at  the  lack  of 
turnpike  roads  and  sumptuous  hotels,  and  all  the  elaborate 
comforts  of  a  country  cultivated  and  civilized  into  tameness 
and  commonplace ;  but  give  me  the  rude  mountain  scramble  ; 
the  roving,  haphazard  wayfaring;  the  half-wild,  yet  frank 
and  hospitable  manners,  which  impart  such  a  true  game  flavor 
to  dear  old  romantic  Spain  ! 


SPANISH    GYPSEY. 


THE  JOURNEY.  13 

Thus  equipped  and  attended,  we  cantered  out  of  "Fair 
Seville  city  "  at  half-past  six  in  the  morning  of  a  bright  May 
day,  in  company  with  a  lady  and  gentleman  of  our  acquaint 
ance,  who  rode  a  few  miles  with  us,  in  the  Spanish  mode  of 
taking  leave.  Our  route  lay  through  old  Alcala  de  Guadaira 
(Alcala  on  the  river  Aira),  the  benefactress  of  Seville,  that 
supplies  it  with  bread  and  water.  Here  live  the  bakers  who 
furnish  Seville  with  that  delicious  bread  for  which  it  is  re 
nowned  ;  here  are  fabricated  those  roscas  well  known  by  the 
well-merited  appellation  of  pan  de  Dios  (bread  of  God)  ;  with 
which,  by  the  way,  we  ordered  our  man,  Sancho,  to  stock  his 
alforjas  for  the  journey.  Well  has  this  beneficent  little  city 
been  denominated  the  "  Oven  of  Seville ; "  well  has  it  been 
called  Alcala  de  los  Panaderos  (Alcala  of  the  bakers),  for  a 
great  part  of  its  inhabitants  are  of  that  handicraft,  and  the 
highway  hence  to  Seville  is  constantly  traversed  by  lines  of 
mules  and  donkeys  laden  with  great  panniers  of  loaves  and 
roscas. 

I  have  said  Alcala  supplies  Seville  with  water.  Here  are 
great  tanks  or  reservoirs,  of  Roman  and  Moorish  construc 
tion,  whence  water  is  conveyed  to  Seville  by  noble  aqueducts. 
The  springs  of  Alcala  are  almost  as  much  vaunted  as  its  ovens ; 
and  to  the  lightness,  sweetness,  and  purity  of  its  water  is 
attributed  in  some  measure  the  delicacy  of  its  bread. 

Here  we  halted  for  a  time,  at  the  ruins  of  the  old  Moorish 
castle,  a  favorite  resort  for  picnic  parties  from  Seville,  where 
we  had  passed  many  a  pleasant  hour.  The  walls  are  of  great 
extent,  pierced  with  loopholes  ;  enclosing  a  huge  square  tower 
or  keep,  with  the  remains  of  masmoras,  or  subterranean  grana 
ries.  The  Guadaira  winds  its  stream  round  the  hill,  at  the 
foot  of  these  ruins,  whimpering  among  reeds,  rushes,  and 
pond-lilies,  and  overhung  with  rhododendron,  eglantine,  yel 
low  myrtle,  and  a  profusion  of  wild  flowers  and  aromatic 
shrubs  ;  while  along  its  banks  are  groves  of  oranges,  citrons, 
and  pomegranates,  among  which  we  heard  the  early  note  of 
the  nightingale. 

A  picturesque  bridge  was  thrown  across  the  little  river, 
at  one  end  of  which  was  the  ancient  Moorish  mill  of  the 
castle,  defended  by  a  tower  of  yellow  stone ;  a  fisherman's 
net  hung  against  the  wall  to  dry,  and  hard  by  in  the  river 
was  his  boat ;  a  group  of  peasant  women  in  bright-colored 
dresses,  crossing  the  arched  bridge,  were  reflected  in  the 
placid  stream.  Altogether  it  was  an  admirable  scene  for  a 
landscape  painter. 


14  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

The  old  Moorish  mills,  so  often  found  on  secluded  streams, 
are  characteristic  objects  in  Spanish  landscape,  and  suggestive 
of  the  perilous  times  of  old.  They  are  of  stone,  and  often  in 
the  form  of  towers  with  loopholes  and  battlements,  capable  of 
defence  in  those  warlike  days  when  the  country  on  both  sides 
of  the  border  was  subject  to  sudden  inroad  and  hasty  ravage, 
and  when  men  had  to  labor  with  their  weapons  at  hand,  and 
some  place  of  temporary  refuge. 

Our  next  halting  place  was  at  Gandul,  where  were  the 
remains  of  another  Moorish  castle,  with  its  ruined  tower,  a 
nestling  place  for  storks,  and  commanding  a  view  over  a  vast 
campina  or  fertile  plain,  with  the  mountains  of  Honda  in  the 
distance.  These  castles  were  strongholds  to  protect  the 
plains  from  the  talas  or  forays  to  which  they  were  subject, 
.when  the  fields  of  corn  would  be  laid  waste,  the  flocks  and 
herds  swept  from  the  vast  pastures,  and,  together  with  cap 
tive  peasantry,  hurried  off  in  long  cabalgadas  across  the 
borders. 

At  Gandul  we  found  a  tolerable  posada;  the  good  folks 
could  not  tell  us  what  time  of  day  it  was,  the  clock  only 
struck  once  in  the  day,  two  hours  after  noon ;  until  that  time 
it  was  guess  work.  We  guessed  it  was  full  time  to  eat ;  so, 
alighting,  we  ordered  a  repast.  While  that  was  in  prepara 
tion,  we  visited  the  palace  once  the  residence  of  the  Marquis 
of  Gandul.  All  was  gone  to  decay ;  there  were  but  two  or 
three  rooms  habitable,  and  very  poorly  furnished.  Yet  here 
were  the  remains  of  grandeur ;  a  terrace,  where  fair  dames 
and  gentle  cavaliers  may  once  have  walked  ;  a  fish-pond  and 
ruined  garden,  with  grape-vines  and  date-bearing  palm-trees. 
Plere  we  were  joined  by  a  fat  curate,  who  gathered  a  bouquet 
of  roses  and  presented  it,  very  gallantly,  to  the  lady  who 
accompanied  us. 

Below  the  palace  was  the  mill,  with  orange-trees  and  aloes 
in  front,  and  a  pretty  stream  of  pure  water.  We  took  a  seat 
in  the  shade,  and  the  millers,  all  leaving  their  work,  sat  down 
and  smoked  with  us  ;  for  the  Andalusians  are  always  ready 
for  a  gossip.  They  were  waiting  for  the  regular  visit  of  the 
barber,  who  came  once  a  week  to  put  all  their  chins  in  order. 
He  arrived  shortly  afterwards  ;  a  lad  of  seventeen,  mounted 
on  a  donkey,  eager  to  display  his  new  alforjas  or  saddle-bags, 
just  bought  at  a  fair ;  price  one  dollar,  to  be  paid  on  St.  John's 
day  (in  June),  by  which  time  he  trusted  to  have  mown  beards 
enough  to  put  him  in  funds. 

By  the  time  the  laconic  clock  of  the  castle  had  struck  two 


THE  JOURNEY.  15 

we  had  finished  our  dinner.  So,  taking  leave  of  our  Seville 
friends,  and  leaving  the  millers  still  under  the  hands  of  the 
barber,  we  set  off  on  our  ride  across  the  campina.  It  was  one 
of  those  vast  plains,  common  in  Spain,  where  for  miles  and 
miles  there  is  neither  house  nor  tree.  Unlucky  the  traveller 
who  has  to  traverse  it,  exposed  as  we  were  to  heavy  and  re 
peated  showers  of  rain.  There  is  no  escape  nor  shelter.  Our 
only  protection  was  our  Spanish  cloaks,  which  nearly  covered 
man  and  horse,  but  grew  heavier  every  mile.  By  the  time  we 
had  lived  through  one  shower  we  would  see  another  slowly  but 
inevitably  approaching ;  fortunately  in  the  interval  there  would 
be  an  outbreak  of  bright,  warm,  Andalusian  sunshine,  which 
would  make  our  cloaks  send  up  wreaths  of  steam,  but  which 
partially  dried  them  before  the  next  drenching. 

Shortly  after  sunset  we  arrived  at  Arahal,  a  little  town 
among  the  hills.  We  found  it  in  a  bustle  with  a  party  of 
miquelets,  who  were  patrolling  the  country  to  ferret  out  rob 
bers.  The  appearance  of  foreigners  like  ourselves  was  an 
unusual  circumstance  in  an  interior  country  town ;  and  little 
Spanish  towns  of  the  kind  are  easily  put  in  a  state  of  gossip 
and  wonderment  by  such  an  occurrence.  Mine  host,  with  two 
or  three  old  wiseacre  comrades  in  brown  cloaks,  studied  our 
passports  in  a  corner  of  the  posada,  while  an  Alguazil  took 
notes  by  the  dim  light  of  a  lamp.  The  passports  were  in 
foreign  languages  and  perplexed  them,  but  our  Squire  Sancho 
assisted  them  in  their  studies,  and  magnified  our  importance 
with  the  grandiloquence  of  a  Spaniard.  In  the  meantime  the 
magnificent  distribution  of  a  few  cigars  had  won  the  heart  of 
all  around  us  ;  in  a  little  while  the  whole  community  seemed 
put  in  agitation  to  make  us  welcome.  The  corregidor  himself 
waited  upon  us,  and  a  great  rush-bottomed  arm-chair  was  osten 
tatiously  bolstered  into  our  room  by  our  landlady,  for  the  ac 
commodation  of  that  important  personage.  The  commander 
of  the  patrol  took  supper  with  us ;  a  lively,  talking,  laughing 
Andaluz,  who  had  made  a  campaign  in  South  America,  and 
recounted  his  exploits  in  love  and  war  with  much  pomp  of 
phrase,  vehemence  of  gesticulation,  and  mysterious  rolling 
of  the  eye.  He  told  us  that  he  had  a  list  of  all  the  robbers  in 
the  country,  and  meant  to  ferret  out  every  mother's  son  of 
them ;  he  offered  us  at  the  same  time  some  of  his  soldiers  as 
an  escort.  "  One  is  enough  to  protect  you,  senors ;  the  rob 
bers  know  me,  and  know  my  men  ;  the  sight  of  one  is  enough 
to  spread  terror  through  a  whole  sierra."  We  thanked  him 
for  his  offer,  but  assured  him,  in  his  own  strain,  that  with  the 


16  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

protection  of  our  redoubtable  squire,  Sancho,  we  were  not  afraid 
of  all  the  ladrones  of  Andalusia. 

While  we  were  supping  with  our  drawcansir  friend,  we  heard 
the  notes  of  a  guitar,  and  the  click  of  castanets,  and  presently 
a  chorus  of  voices  singing  a  popular  air.  In  fact  mine  host 
had  gathered  together  the  amateur  singers  and  musicians,  and 
the  rustic  belles  of  the  neighborhood,  and,  on  going  forth,  the 
courtyard  or  patio  of  the  inn  presented  a  scene  of  true  Spanish 
festivity.  We  took  our  seats  with  mine  host  and  hostess  and 
the  commander  of  the  patrol,  under  an  archway  opening  into 
the  court ;  the  guitar  passed  from  hand  to  hand,  but  a  jovial 
shoemaker  was  the  Orpheus  of  the  place.  He  was  a  pleasant- 
looking  fellow,  with  huge  black  whiskers ;  his  sleeves  were  rolled 
up  to  his  elbows.  He  touched  the  guitar  with  masterly  skill, 
and  sang  a  little  amorous  ditty  with  an  expressive  leer  at  the 
women,  with  whom  he  was  evidently  a  favorite.  He  after 
wards  danced  a  fandango  with  a  buxom  Andalusian  damsel, 
to  the  great  delight  of  the  spectators.  But  none  of  the 
females  present  could  compare  with  mine  host's  pretty 
daughter,  Pepita,  who  had  slipped  away  and  made  her 
toilette  for  the  occasion,  and  had  covered  her  head  with  roses ; 
and  who  distinguished  herself  in  a  bolero  with  a  handsome 
young  dragoon.  We  ordered  our  host  to  let  wine  and  refresh 
ment  circulate  freely  among  the  company,  yet,  though  there 
was  a  motley  assembly  of  soldiers,  muleteers,  and  villagers, 
no  one  exceeded  the  bounds  of  sober  enjoyment.  The  scene 
was  a  study  for  a  painter  :  the  picturesque  group  of  dancers, 
the  troopers  in  their  half  military  dresses,  the  peasantry 
wrapped  in  their  brown  cloaks ;  nor  must  I  omit  to  mention 
the  old  meagre  Alguazil,  in  a  short  black  cloak,  who  took  no 
notice  of  anything  going  on,  but  sat  in  a  corner  diligently 
writing  by  the  dim  light  of  a  huge  copper  lamp,  that  might 
have  figured  in  the  days  of  Don  Quixote. 

The  following  morning  was  bright  and  balmy,  as  a  May 
morning  ought  to  be,  according  to  the  poets.  Leaving  Arahal 
at  seven  o'clock,  with  all  the  posada  at  the  door  to  cheer  us 
off,  we  pursued  our  way  through  a  fertile  country,  covered  with 
grain  and  beautifully  verdant ;  but  which  in  summer,  when  the 
harvest  is  over  and  the  fields  parched  and  brown,  must  be 
monotonous  and  lonely  ;  for,  as  in  our  ride  of  yesterday,  there 
were  neither  houses  nor  people  to  be  seen.  The  latter  all  con 
gregate  in  villages  and  strongholds  among  the  hills,  as  if  these 
fertile  plains  were  still  subject  to  the  ravages  of  the  Moor. 

At  noon  we  came  to  where  there  was  a  group  of  trees,  beside 


THE  JOURNEY.  17 

a  brook  in  a  rich  meadow.  Here  we  alighted  to  make  our  mid 
day  ineal.  It  was  really  a  luxurious  spot,  among  wild  flowers 
and  aromatic  herbs,  with  birds  singing  around  us.  Knowing 
the  scanty  larders  of  Spanish  inns,  and  the  houseless  tracts 
we  might  have  to  traverse,  we  had  taken  care  to  have  the  alfor- 
jas  of  our  squire  well  stocked  Avith  cold  provisions,  and  his 
bota,  or  leathern  bottle,  which  might  hold  a  gallon,  filled  to 
the  iieck  with  choice  Valdepenas  wine.1  As  we  depended 
more  upon  these  for  our  well-being  than  even  his  trabuco, 
we  exhorted  him  to  be  more  attentive  in  keeping  them  well 
charged ;  and  I  must  do  him  the  justice  to  say  that  his 
namesake,  the  trencher-loving  Sancho  Panza,  was  never  a 
more  provident  purveyor.  Though  the  alforjas  and  the  bota 
were  frequently  and  vigorously  assailed  throughout  the  jour 
ney,  they  had  a  wonderful  power  of  repletion,  our  vigilant 
squire  sacking  everything  that  remained  from  our  repasts  at 
the  inns,  to  supply  these  junketings  by  the  road-side,  which 
were  his  delight. 

On  the  present  occasion  he  spread  quite  a  sumptuous  variety 
of  remnants  on  the  greensward  before  us,  graced  with  an  ex 
cellent  ham  brought  from  Seville ;  then,  taking  his  seat  at 
a  little  distance,  he  solaced  himself  with  what  remained  in 
the  alforjas.  A  visit  or  two  to  the  bota  made  him  as  merry 
and  chirruping  as  a  grasshopper  filled  with  dew.  On  my 
comparing  his  contents  of  the  alforjas  to  Sancho's  skimming 
of  the  flesh-pots  at  the  wedding  of  Camacho,  I  found  he  was 
well  versed  in  the  history  of  Don  Quixote,  but,  like  many  of 
the  common  people  of  Spain,  firmly  believed  it  to  be  a  true 
history. 

"  All  that  happened  a  long  time  ago,  senor,"  said  he,  with 
an  inquiring  look. 

"A  very  long  time,"  I  replied. 

"  I  dare  say  more  than  a  thousand  years  "  —  still  looking 
dubiously. 

"  I  dare  say  not  less." 

The  squire  was  satisfied.  Nothing  pleased  the  simple- 
hearted  varlet  more  than  my  comparing  him  to  the  renowned 
Sancho  for  devotion  to  the  trencher;  and  he  called  himself  by 
no  other  name  throughout  the  journey. 

1  It  maybe  as  well  to  note  here,  that  the  alforjas  are  square  pockets  at  each  end  of 
along  cloth  about  a  foot  and  a  half  wide,  formed  by  turning  up  its  extremities.  •  The 
cloth  is  then  thrown  over  the  saddle,  and  the  pocket:*  hang  on  each  side  like  saddle 
bags.  It  is  an  Arab  invention.  The  bota  is  a  leathern  bag  or  bottle,  of  portly  dimen 
sions,  with  a  narrow  neck.  It  is  also  oriental.  Hence  the  scriptural  caution,  which 
perplexed  niu  in  my  boyhood,  not  to  put  new  wine  into  old  bottles. 


18  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

Our  repast  being  finished,  we  spread  QUT  cloaks  on  the 
greensward  under  the  tree,  and  took  a  luxurious  siesta  in  the 
Spanish  fashion.  The  clouding  up  of  the  weather,  however, 
warned  us  to  depart,  and  a  harsh  wind  sprang  up  from  the 
southeast.  Towards  five  o'clock  we  arrived  at  Osuna,  a  town 
of  fifteen  thousand  inhabitants,  situated  on  the  side  of  a  hill, 
with  a  church  and  a  ruined  castle.  The  posada  was  outside 
of  the  walls;  it  had  a  cheerless  look.  The  evening  being 
cold,  the  inhabitants  were  crowded  round  a  brasero  in  a  chim 
ney-corner  ;  and  the  hostess  was  a  dry  old  woman,  who  looked 
like  a  mummy.  Every  one  eyed  us  askance  as  we  entered,  as 
Spaniards  are  apt  to  regard  strangers ;  a  cheery,  respectful 
salutation  on  our  part,  caballeroing  them  and  touching  our 
sombreros,  set  Spanish  pride  at  ease ;  and  when  we  took  our 
seat  among  them,  lit  our  cigars,  and  passed  the  cigar-box 
round  among  them,  our  victory  was  complete.  I  have  never 
known  a  Spaniard,  whatever  his  rank  or  condition,  who  would 
suffer  himself  to  be  outdone  in  courtesy ;  and  to  the  common 
Spaniard  the  present  of  a  cigar  (puro)  is  irresistible.  Care, 
however,  must  be  taken  never  to  offer  him  a  present  with  an 
air  of  superiority  and  condescension ;  he  is  too  much  of  a 
caballero  to  receive  favors  at  the  cost  of  his  dignity. 

Leaving  Osuna  at  an  early  hour  the  next  morning,  we 
entered  the  sierra  or  range  of  mountains.  The  road  wound 
through  picturesque  scenery,  but  lonel}- ;  and  a  cross  here  and 
there  by  the  roadside,  the  sign  of  a  murder,  showed  that  we 
were  now  coming  among  the  "  robber  haunts."  This  wild  and 
intricate  country,  with  its  silent  plains  and  valleys  intersected 
by  mountains,  has  ever  been  famous  for  banditti.  It  was  here 
that  Omar  Ibn  Hassan,  a  robber-chief  among  the  Moslems, 
held  ruthless  sway  in  the  ninth  century,  disputing  dominion 
even  with  the  caliphs  of  Cordova.  This  too  was  a  part  of  the 
regions  so  often  ravaged  during  the  reign  of  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella  by  AH  Atar,  the  old  Moorish  alcayde  of  Loxa,  father- 
in-law  of  Boabdil,  so  that  it  was  called  Ali  Atar's  garden,  and 
here  "  Jose  Maria,"  famous  in  Spanish  brigand  story,  had  his 
favorite  lurking  places. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  we  passed  through  Fuente  la  Piedra 
near  a  little  salt  lake  of  the  same  name,  a  beautiful  sheet  of 
water,  reflecting  like  a  mirror  the  distant  mountains.  We 
now  came  in  sight  of  Antiquera,  that  old  city  of  warlike  rep 
utation,  lying  in  the  lap  of  the  great  sierra  which  runs  through 
Andalusia.  A  noble  vega  spread  out  before  it,  a  picture  of 
mild  fertility  set  in  a  frame  of  rocky  mountains.  Crossing  a 


THE  JOURNEY.  19 

gentle  river  we  approached  the  city  between  hedges  and  gar 
dens,  in  which  nightingales  were  pouring  forth  their  evening 
song.  About  nightfall  we  arrived  at  the  gates.  Everything 
in  this  venerable  city  has  a  decidedly  Spanish  stamp.  It  lies 
too  much  out  of  the  frequented  track  of  foreign  travel  to  have 
its  old  usages  trampled  out.  Here  I  observed  old  men  stili 
wearing  the  montero,  or  ancient  hunting  cap,  once  common 
throughout  Spain ;  while  the  young  men  wore  the  little  round- 
crowned  hat,  with  brim  turned  up  all  round,  like  a  cup  turned 
down  in  its  saucer ;  while  the  brim  was  set  off  with  little 
black  tufts  like  cockades.  The  women,  too,  were  all  in  man 
tillas  and  basquinas.  The  fashions  of  Paris  had  not  reached 
Antiquera. 

Pursuing  our  course  through  a  spacious  street,  we  put  up  al 
the  posada  of  San  Fernando.  As  Antiquera,  though  a  consid 
erable  city,  is,  as  I  observed,  somewhat  out  of  the  track  01 
travel,  I  had  anticipated  bad  quarters  and  poor  fare  at  the  inn. 
I  was  agreeably  disappointed,  therefore,  by  a  supper  tabk 
amply  supplied,  and  what  were  still  more  acceptable,  good 
clean  rooms  and  comfortable  beds.  Our  man,  Sancho,  felt 
himself  as  well  off  as  his  namesake,  when  he  had  the  run  of 
the  duke's  kitchen,  and  let  me  know,  as  I  retired  for  the  night, 
that  it  had  been  a  proud  time  for  the  alforjas. 

Early  in  the  morning  (May  4th)  I  strolled  to  the  ruins  of 
the  old  Moorish  castle,  which  itself  had  been  reared  on  the 
ruins  of  a  Roman  fortress.  Here,  taking  my  seat  on  the  re 
mains  of  a  crumbling  tower,  I  enjoyed  a  grand  and  varied 
landscape,  beautiful  in  itself,  and  full  of  storied  and  romantic 
associations ;  for  I  was  now  in  the  very  heart  of  the  country 
famous  for  the  chivalrous  contests  between  Moor  and  Chris 
tian.  Below  me,  in  its  lap  of  hills,  lay  the  old  warrior  city 
so  often  mentioned  in  chronicle  and  ballad.  Out  of  yon  gate 
and  down  yon  hill  paraded  the  band  of  Spanish  cavaliers,  of 
highest  rank  and  bravest  bearing,  to  make  that  foray  during 
the  war  and  conquest  of  Granada,  which  ended  in  the  lament 
able  massacre  among  the  mountains  of  Malaga,  and  laid  all 
Andalusia  in  mourning.  Beyond  spread  out  the  vega,  covered 
with  gardens  and  orchards  and  fields  of  grain  and  enamelled 
meadows,  inferior  only  to  the  famous  Vega  of  Granada.  To 
the  right  the  Rock  of  the  Lovers  stretched  like  a  cragged 
promontory  into  the  plain,  whence  the  daughter  of  the  Moorish 
alcayde  and  her  lover,  when  closely  pursued,  threw  themselves 
in  despair. 

The  matin  peal  from  church  and  convent  below  me  rang 


20  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

sweetly  in  the  morning  air,  as  I  descended.  The  market-place 
was  beginning  to  throng  with  the  populace,  who  traffic  in  the 
abundant  produce  of  the  vega;  for  this  is  the  mart  of  an  agri 
cultural  region.  In  the  market-place  were  abundance  of  freshly 
plucked  roses  for  sale ;  for  not  a  danie  or  damsel  of  Andalusia 
thinks  her  gala  dress  complete  without  a  rose  shining  like  a 
gem  among  her  raven  tresses. 

On  returning  to  the  inn  I  found  our  man  Sancho,  in  high 
gossip  with  the  landlord  and  two  or  three  of  his  hangers-on. 
He  had  just  been  telling  some  marvellous  story  about  Seville, 
which  mine  host  seemed  piqued  to  matcli  with  one  equally 
marvellous  about  Antiquera.  There  was  once  a  fountain,  he 
said,  in  one  of  the  public  squares,  called  H  fuente  del  toro,  the 
fountain  of  the  bull,  because  the  water  gushed  from  the  mouth 
of  a  bull's  head,  carved  of  stone.  Underneath  the  head  was 
inscribed :  — 

En  frente  del  toro 
Se  hallen  tesoro. 

(In  front  of  the  bull  there  is  treasure.)  Many  digged  in  front 
of  the  fountain,  but  lost  their  labor  and  found  no  money.  At 
last  one  knowing  fellow  construed  the  motto  a  different  way. 
It  is  in  the  forehead  (frente)  of  the  bull  that  the  treasure  is 
to  be  found,  said  he  to  himself,  and  I  am  the  man  to  find  it. 
Accordingly  he  came  late  at  night,  with  a  mallet,  and  knocked 
the  head  to  pieces ;  and  what  do  you  think  he  found  ? 

"  Plenty  of  gold  and  diamonds  !  "  cried  Sancho  eagerly. 

"  He  found  nothing,"  rejoined  mine  host  dryly ;  "  and  he 
ruined  the  fountain." 

Here  a  great  laugh  was  set  up  by  the  landlord's  hangers-on ; 
who  considered  Sancho  completely  taken  in  by  what  I  pre 
sume  was  one  of  mine  host's  standing  jokes. 

Leaving  Antiquera  at  eight  o'clock,  we  had  a  delightful 
ride  along  the  little  river,  and  by  gardens  and  orchards,  fra 
grant  with  the  odors  of  spring  and  vocal  with  the  nightingale. 
Our  road  passed  round  the  Rock  of  the  Lovers  (el  peiion  de 
los  enamorados),  which  rose  in  a  precipice  above  us.  In  the 
course  of  the  morning  we  passed  through  Archidona,  situated 
in  the  breast  of  a  high  hill,  with  a  three-pointed  mountain 
towering  above  it,  and  the  ruins  of  a  Moorish  fortress.  It 
was  a  great  toil  to  ascend  a  steep  stony  street  leading  up  into 
the  city,  although  it  bore  the  encouraging  name  of  Calle  Real 
del  Llano  (the  royal  street  of  the  plain),  but  it  was  still  a 
greater  toil  to  descend  from  this  mountain  city  on  the  other  side. 


THE  JOURNEY.  21 

At  noon  we  halted  in  sight  of  Archidona,  in  a  pleasant  lit 
tle  meadow  among  hills  covered  with  olive-trees.  Our  cloaks 
were  spread  on  the  grass,  under  an  elm  by  the  side  of  a  bub 
bling  rivulet ;  our  horses  were  tethered  where  they  might  crop 
the  herbage,  and  Sancho  was  told  to  produce  his  alforjas. 
He  had  been  unusually  silent  this  morning  ever  since  the 
laugh  raised  at  his  expense,  but  now  his  countenance  bright 
ened,  and  he  produced  his  alforjas  with  an  air  of  triumph. 
They  contained  the  contributions  of  four  days'  journeying, 
but  had  been  signally  enriched  by  the  foraging  of  the  pre 
vious  evening  in  the  plenteous  inn  at  Antiquera ;  and  this 
seemed  to  furnish  him  with  a  set-off  to  the  banter  of  mine 
host. 

En  frente  del  toro 
Se  hallen  tesoro 

would  he  exclaim,  with  a  chuckling  laugh,  as  he  drew  forth 
the  heterogeneous  contents  one  by  one,  in  a  series  which 
seemed  to  have  no  end.  First  came  forth  a  shoulder  of 
roasted  kid,  very  little  the  worse  for  wear ;  then  an  entire 
partridge ;  then  a  great  morsel  of  salted  codfish  wrapped  in 
paper ;  then  the  residue  of  a  ham  ;  then  the  half  of  a  pullet, 
together  with  several  rolls  of  bread,  and  a  rabble  rout  of 
oranges,  figs,  raisins,  and  walnuts.  His  bota  also  had  been 
recruited  with  some  excellent  wine  of  Malaga.  At  every 
fresh  apparition  from  his  larder,  he  would  enjoy  our  ludicrous 
surprise,  throwing  himself  back  on  the  grass,  shouting  with 
laughter,  and  exclaiming  "Frente  del  toro  ! — frente  del  toro  ! 
Ah,  senors,  they  thought  Sancho  a  simpleton  at  Antiquera ; 
but  Sancho  knew  where  to  find  the  tesoro" 

While  we  were  diverting  ourselves  with  his  simple  drollery, 
a  solitary  beggar  approached,  who  had  almost  the  look  of  a 
pilgrim.  He  had  a  venerable  gray  beard,  and  was  evidently 
very  old,  supporting  himself  on  a  staff,  yet  age  had  not  bowed 
him  down  ;  he  was  tall  and  erect,  and  had  the  wreck  of  a  fine 
form.  He  wore  a  round  Andalusian  hat,  a  sheep-skin  jacket, 
and  leathern  breeches,  gaiters  and  sandals.  His  dress,  though 
old  and  patched,  was  decent,  his  demeanor  manly,  and  he 
addressed  us  with  the  grave  courtesy  that  is  to  be  remarked 
in  the  lowest  Spaniard.  We  were  in  a  favorable  mood  for 
such  a  visitor :  and  in  a  freak  of  capricious  charity  gave  him 
some  silver,  a  loaf  of  fine  wheaten  bread,  and  a  goblet  of  our 
choice  wine  of  Malaga.  He  received  them  thankfully,  but 
without  any  grovelling  tribute  of  gratitude.  Tasting  the 


22  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

wine,  he  held  it  up  to  the  light,  with  a  slight  beam  of  surprise 
in  his  eye,  then  quaffing  it  off  at  a  draught ;  "  It  is  many 
years,"  said  he,  "  since  I  have  tasted  such  wine.  It  is  a 
cordial  to  an  old  man's  heart."  Then,  looking  at  the  beauti 
ful  wheaten  loaf,  "  bendito  sea  tal  pan ! "  "  blessed  be  such 
bread  !  "  So  saying,  he  put  it  in  his  wallet.  We  urged  him 
to  eat  it  on  the  spot.  "  No,  senors,"  replied  he,  "  the  wine  I 
had  either  to  drink  or  leave ;  but  the  bread  I  may  take  home 
to  share  with  my  family." 

Our  man  Sancho  sought  our  eye,  and  reading  permission 
there,  gave  the  old  man  some  of  the  ample  fragments  of  our 
repast,  on  condition,  however,  that  he  should  sit  down  and 
make  a  meal. 

He  accordingly  took  his  seat  at  some  little  distance  from 
us,  and  began  to  eat  slowly,  and  with  a  sobriety  and  decorum 
that  would  have  become  a  hidalgo.  There  was  altogether  a 
measured  manner  and  a  quiet  self-possession  about  the  old 
man,  that  made  me  think  that  he  had  seen  better  days :  his 
language  too,  though  simple,  had  occasionally  something 
picturesque  and  almost  poetical  in  the  phraseology.  I  set 
him  down  for  some  broken-down  cavalier.  I  was  mistaken ; 
it  was  nothing  but  the  innate  courtesy  of  a  Spaniard,  and  the 
poetical  turn  of  thought  and  language  often  to  be  found  in 
the  lowest  classes  of  this  clear-witted  people.  For  fifty  years, 
he  told  us,  he  had  been  a  shepherd,  but  no\v  he  was  out  of 
employ  and  destitute.  "  When  I  was  a  young  man,"  said  he, 
"  nothing  could  harm  or  trouble  me ;  I  was  always  well, 
always  gay ;  but  now  I  am  seventy-nine  years  of  age,  and 
a  beggar,  and  my  heart  begins  to  fail  me." 

Still  he  was  not  a  regular  mendicant :  it  was  not  until  re 
cently  that  want  had  driven  him  to  this  degradation  ;  and  he 
gave  a  touching  picture  of  the  struggle  between  hunger  and 
pride,  when  abject  destitution  first  came  upon  him.  He  was 
returning  from  Malaga  without  money  ;  he  had  not  tasted 
food  for  some  time,  and  was  crossing  one  of  the  great  plains 
of  Spain,  where  there  were  but  few  habitations.  When 
almost  dead  with  hunger,  he  applied  at  the  door  of  a  venta  or 
country  inn.  "  Perdon  usted  por  Dios  hennano  f  "  (Excuse  us, 
brother,  for  God's  sake  !)  was  the  reply  —  the  usiial  mode  in 
Spain  of  refusing  a  beggar.  "  I  turned  away,"  said  he,  "  with 
shame  greater  than  my  hunger,  for  my  heart  was  yet  too 
proud.  I  came  to  a  river  with  high  banks,  and  deep,  rapid 
current,  and  felt  tempted  to  throw  myself  in:  'What  should 
such  an  old,  worthless,  wretched  man  as  I  live  for  ? '  But 


THE  JOURNEY.  23 

when  I  was  on  the  brink  of  the  current,  I  thought  on  the 
blessed  Virgin,  and  turned  away.  I  travelled  on  until  T 
saw  a  country-seat  at  a  little  distance  from  the  road,  and 
entered  the  outer  gate  of  the  court-yard.  The  door  was  shut, 
but  there  were  two  young  senors  at  a  window.  I  approached 
and  begged  —  '  Perdon  usted  por  Dios  hermano  /  '  •—  and  the 
window  closed.  I  crept  out  of  the  court-yard,  but  hunger 
overcame  me,  and  my  heart  gave  way  :  I  thought  my  hour  at 
hand,  so  I  laid  myself  down  at  the  gate,  commended  myself 
to  the  Holy  Virgin,  and  covered  my  head  to  die.  In  a  little 
while  afterwards  the  master  of  the  house  came  home  :  seeing 
me  lying  at  his  gate,  he  uncovered  my  head,  had  pity  on  my 
gray  hairs,  took  me  into  his  house,  and  gave  me  food.  So, 
senors,  you  see  that  one  should  always  put  confidence  in  the 
protection  of  the  Virgin." 

The  old  man  was  on  his  way  to  his  native  place,  Archidona, 
which  was  in  full  view  on  its  steep  and  rugged  mountain.  He 
pointed  to  the  ruins  of  its  castle  :  "  That  castle,"  he  said, 
"  was  inhabited  by  a  Moorish  king  at  the  time  of  the  wars  of 
Granada.  Queen  Isabella  invaded  it  with  a  great  army  ;  but 
the  king  looked  down  from  his  castle  among  the  clouds,  and 
laughed  her  to  scorn !  Upon  this  the  Virgin  appeared  to  the 
queen,  and  guided  her  and  her  army  up  a  mysterious  path  in 
the  mountains,  which  had  never  before  been  known.  When 
the  Moor  saw  her  coming,  he  was  astonished,  and  springing 
with  his  horse  from  a  precipice,  was  dashed  to  pieces !  The 
marks  of  his  horse's  hoofs,"  said  the  old  man,  "  are  to  be  seen 
in  the  margin  of  the  rock  to  this  day.  And  see,  senors,  yon 
der  is  the  road  by  which  the  queen  and  her  army  mounted  : 
you  see  it  like  a  ribbon  up  the  mountain's  side ;  but  the  mira 
cle  is,  that,  though  it  can  be  seen  at  a  distance,  when  you 
come  near  it  disappears  !  " 

The  ideal  road  to  which  he  pointed  was  undoubtedly  a  sandy 
ravine  of  the  mountain,  which  looked  narrow  and  defined  at 
a  distance,  but  became  broad  and  indistinct  on  an  approach. 

As  the  old  man's  heart  wanned  with  wine  and  wassail,  he 
went  on  to  tell  us  a  story  of  the  buried  treasure  left  under  the 
castle  by  the  Moorish  king.  His  own  house  was  next  to  the 
foundations  of  the  castle.  The  curate  and  notary  dreamed 
three  times  of  the  treasure,  and  went  to  work  at  the  place 
pointed  out  in  their  dreams.  His  own  son-in-law  heard  the 
sound  of  their  pickaxes  and  spades  at  night.  What  they 
found  nobody  knows ;  they  became  suddenly  rich,  but  kept 
their  own  secret.  Thus  the  old  man  had  once  been  next  door 


24  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

to  fortune,  but  was  doomed  never  to  get  under  the  same 
roof. 

I  have  remarked  that  the  stories  of  treasure  buried  by  the 
Moors,  so  popular  throughout  Spain,  are  most  current  among 
the  poorest  people.  Kind  nature  consoles  with  shadows  for 
the  lack  of  substantials.  The  thirsty  man  dreams  of  foun 
tains  and  running  streams ;  the  hungry  man  of  banquets  ;  and 
the  poor  man  of  heaps  of  hidden  gold :  nothing  certainly  is 
more  opulent  than  the  imagination  of  a  beggar. 

Our  afternoon's  ride  took  us  through  a  steep  and  rugged 
defile  of  the  mountains,  called  Puerte  del  Rey,  the  Pass  of  the 
King;  being  one  of  the  great  passes  into  the  territories  of 
Granada,  and  the  one  by  which  king  Ferdinand  conducted  his 
army.  Towards  sunset  the  road,  winding  around  a  hill,  brought 
us  in  sight  of  the  famous  little  frontier  city  of  Loxa,  which 
repulsed  Ferdinand  from  its  walls.  Its  Arabic  name  implies 
guardian,  and  such  it  was  to  the  Vega  of  Granada  ;  being  one 
of  its  advanced  guards.  It  was  the  stronghold  of  that  fiery 
veteran,  old  Ali  Atar,  father-in-law  of  Boabdil ;  and  here  it 
was  that  the  latter  collected  his  troops,  and  sallied  forth  on 
that  disastrous  foray  which  ended  in  the  death  of  the  old  al- 
cayde  and  his  own  captivity.  From  its  commanding  position 
at  the  gate,  as  it  were  of  this  mountain  pass,  Loxa  has  not 
unaptly  been  termed  the  key  of  Granada.  It  is  wildly  pic 
turesque  ;  built  along  the  face  of  an  arid  mountain.  The 
ruins  of  a  Moorish  alcazar  or  citadel  crown  a  rocky  mound 
which  rises  out  of  the  centre  of  the  town.  The  river  Xenil 
washes  its  base,  winding  among  rocks,  and  groves,  and  gar- 
dejis,  and  meadows,  and  crossed  by  a  Moorish  bridge.  Above 
the  city  all  is  savage  and  sterile,  below  is  the  richest  vegeta 
tion  and  the  freshest  verdure.  A  similar  contrast  is  presented 
by  the  river  ;  above  the  bridge  it  is  placid  and  grassy,  reflecting 
groves  and  gardens ;  below  it  is  rapid,  noisy  and  tumultuous. 
The  Sierra  Nevada,  the  royal  mountains  of  Granada,  crowned 
with  perpetual  snow,  form  the  distant  boundary  to  this  varied 
landscape  ;  one  of  the  most  characteristic  of  romantic  Spain. 

Alighting  at  the  entrance  of  the  city,  we  gave  our  horses 
to  Sancho  to  lead  them  to  the  inn,  while  we  strolled  about  to 
enjoy  the  singular  beauty  of  the  environs.  As  we  crossed  the 
bridge  to  a  fine  alameda,  or  public  walk,  the  bells  tolled  the 
hour  of  oration.  At  the  sound  the  wayfarers,  whether  on 
business  or  pleasure,  paused,  took  off  their  hats,  crossed  them 
selves,  and  repeated  their  evening  prayer ;  a  pious  custom 
still  rigidly  observed  in  retired  parts  of  Spain.  Altogether 


THE  JOURNEY.  25 

it  was  a  solemn  and  beautiful  evening  scene,  and  we  wandered 
on  as  the  evening  gradually  closed,  and  the  new  moon  began 
to  glitter  between  the  high  elms  of  the  alameda.  We  were 
roused  from  this  quiet  state  of  enjoyment  by  the  voice  of  our 
trusty  squire  hailing  us  from  a  distance.  He  came  up  to  us, 
out  of  breath.  "  Ah,  senores,"  cried  he,  "  el  pobre  Sancho  no 
es  nada  sin  Don  Quixote."  (Ah,  senors,  poor  Sancho  is  noth 
ing  without  Don  Quixote.)  He  had  been  alarmed  at  our  not 
coming  to  the  inn ;  Loxa  was  such  a  wild  mountain  place, 
full  of  contrabandistas,  enchanters  and  infiernos ;  he  did  not 
well  know  what  might  have  happened,  and  set  out  to  seek  us, 
inquiring  after  us  of  every  person  he  met,  until  he  traced 
us  across  the  bridge,  and,  to  his  great  joy,  caught  sight  of  us 
strolling  in  the  alameda. 

The  inn  to  which  he  conducted  us  was  called  the  Corona,  or 
Crown,  and  we  found  it  quite  in  keeping  with  the  character 
of  the  place,  the  inhabitants  of  which  seem  still  to  retain  the 
bold,  fiery  spirit  of  the  olden  time.  The  hostess  was  a  young 
and  handsome  Andalusian  widow,  whose  trim  basquina  of 
black  silk,  fringed  with  bugles,  set  off  the  play  of  a  graceful 
form  and  round  pliant  limbs.  Her  step  was  firm  and  elastic ; 
her  dark  eye  was  full  of  fire,  and  the  coquetry  of  her  air,  and 
varied  ornaments  of  her  person,  showed  that  she  was  accus 
tomed  to  be  admired. 

She  was  well  matched  by  a  brother,  nearly  about  her  own 
age ;  they  were  perfect  models  of  the  Andalusian  Majo  and 
Maja.  He  was  tall,  vigorous,  and  well-formed,  with  a  clear 
olive  complexion,  a  dark  beaming  eye,  and  curling  chestnut 
whiskers  that  met  under  his  chin.  He  was  gallantly  dressed 
in  a  short  green  velvet  jacket,  fitted  to  his  shape,  profusely 
decorated  with  silver  buttons,  with  a  white  handkerchief  in 
each  pocket.  He  had  breeches  of  the  same,  with  rows  of  but 
tons  from  the  hips  to  the  knees ;  a  pink  silk  handkerchief 
round  his  neck,  gathered  through  a  ring,  on  the  bosom  of  a 
neatly-plaited  shirt ;  a  sash  round  the  waist  to  match  ;  botti- 
nas,  or  spatterdashes,  of  the  finest  russet  leather,  elegantly 
worked,  and  open  at  the  calf  to  show  his  stockings  and  russet 
shoes,  setting  off  a  well-shaped  foot. 

As  he  was  standing  at  the  door,  a  horseman  rode  up  and 
entered  into  low  and  earnest  conversation  with  him.  He  was 
dressed  in  a  similar  style,  and  almost  with  equal  finery ;  a 
man  about  thirty,  square-built,  with  strong  Koman  features, 
handsome,  though  slightly  pitted  with  the  small-pox ;  with  a 
free,  bold,  and  somewhat  daring  air.  His  powerful  black 


26  THE  ALSAMBBA. 

horse  was  decorated  with  tassels  and  fanciful  trappings,  and 
a  couple  of  broad-mouthed  blunderbusses  hung  behind  the 
saddle.  He  had  the  air  of  one  of  those  contrabandistas  I  have 
seen  in  the  mountains  of  Ronda,  and  evidently  had  a  good 
understanding  with  the  brother  of  mine  hostess  ;  nay,  if  I 
mistake  not,  he  was  a  favored  admirer  of  the  widow.  In  fact, 
the  whole  inn  and  its  inmates  had  something  of  a  contraban- 
dista  aspect,  and  a  blunderbuss  stood  in  a  corner  beside  the 
guitar.  The  horseman  I  have  mentioned  passed  his  evening 
in  the  posada,  and  sang  several  bold  mountain  romances  with 
great  spirit.  As  we  were  at  supper,  two  poor  Asturians  put 
in  in  distress,  begging  food  and  a  night's  lodging.  They  had 
been  waylaid  by  robbers  as  they  came  from  a  fair  among  the 
mountains,  robbed  of  a  horse,  which  carried  all  their  stock  in 
trade,  stripped  of  their  money,  and  most  of  their  apparel, 
beaten  for  having  offered  resistance,  and  left  almost  naked  in 
the  road.  My  companion,  with  a  prompt  generosity  natural 
to  him,  ordered  them  a  supper  and  a  bed,  and  gave  them  a  sum 
of  money  to  help  them  forward  towards  their  home. 

As  the  evening  advanced,  the  dramatis  personce  thickened. 
A  large  man,  about  sixty  years  of  age,  of  powerful  frame, 
came  strolling  in,  to  gossip  with  mine  hostess.  He  was  dressed 
in  the  ordinary  Andalusian  costume,  but  had  a  huge  sabre 
tucked  under  his  arm ;  wore  large  mustaches,  and  had  some 
thing  of  a  lofty  swaggering  air.  Every  one  seemed  to  regard 
him  with  great  deference. 

Our  man  Sancho  whispered  to  us  that  he  was  Don  Ventura 
Rodriguez,  the  hero  and  champion  of  Loxa,  famous  for  his 
prowess  and  the  strength  of  his  arm.  In  the  time  of  the 
French  invasion  he  surprised  six  troopers  who  were  asleep  :  he 
first  secured  their  horses,  then  attacked  them  with  his  sabre, 
killed  some,  and  took  the  rest  prisoners.  For  this  exploit  the 
king  allows  him  a  peseta  ( the  fifth  of  a  duro,  or  dollar  )  per 
day,  and  has  dignified  him  with  the  title  of  Don. 

I  was  amused  to  behold  his  swelling  language  and  demeanor. 
He  was  evidently  a  thorough  Andalusian,  boastful  as  brave. 
His  sabre  was  always  in  his  hand  or  under  his  arm.  He  carries 
it  always  about  with  him  as  a  child  does  her  doll,  calls  it  his 
Santa  Teresa,  and  says,  "When  I  draw  it,  the  earth  trembles  " 
(tiembla  la  tierra). 

I  sat  until  a  late  hour  listening  to  the  varied  themes  of  this 
motley  group,  who  mingled  together  with  the  unreserve  of  a 
Spanish  posada.  We  had  contrabandista  songs,  stories  of  rob 
bers,  guerilla  exploits,  and  Moorish  legends.  The  last  were 


THE  JOURNEY.  27 

from  our  handsome  landlady,  who  gave  a  poetical  account  of 
the  Infienios,  or  infernal  regions  of  Loxa,  dark  caverns,  in 
which  subterranean  streams  and  waterfalls  make  a  mysterious 
sound.  The  common  people  say  that  there  are  money-coiners 
shut  up  there  from  the  time  of  the  Moors  ;  and  that  the  Moor 
ish  kings  kept  their  treasures  in  those  caverns. 

I  retired  to  bed  with  my  imagination  excited  by  all  that  I 
had  seen  and  heard  in  this  old  warrior  city.  Scarce  had  I 
fallen  asleep  when  I  was  aroused  by  a  horrid  din  and  uproar, 
that  might  have  confounded  the  hero  of  La  Mancha  himself 
whose  experience  of  Spanish  inns  was  a  continual  uproar.  It 
seemed  for  a  moment  as  if  the  Moors  were  once  more  break 
ing  into  the  town,  or  the  Infiernos  of  which  mine  hostess  talked 
had  broken  loose.  I  sallied  forth  half  dressed  to  reconnoitre. 
It  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  charivari  to  celebrate  the 
nuptials  of  an  old  man  with  a  buxom  damsel.  Wishing  him 
joy  of  his  bride  and  his  serenade,  I  returned  to  my  more  quiet 
bed,  and  slept  soundly  until  morning. 

While  dressing  I  amused  myself  in  reconnoitring  the  popu 
lace  from  my  window.  There  were  groups  of  fine-looking 
young  men  in  the  trim  fanciful  Andalusian  costume,  with 
brown  cloaks,  thrown  about  them  in  true  Spanish  style,  which 
cannot  be  imitated,  and  little  round  majo  hats  stuck  on  with  a 
peculiar  knowing  air.  They  had  the  same  galliard  look  which 
I  have  remarked  among  the  dandy  mountaineers  of  Honda. 
Indeed,  all  this  part  of  Andalusia  abounds  with  such  game- 
looking  characters.  They  loiter  about  the  towns  and  villages ; 
seem  to  have  plenty  of  time  and  plenty  of  money ;  "  horse  to 
ride  and  weapon  to  wear."  Great  gossips ;  great  smokers ; 
apt  at  touching  the  guitar,  singing  couplets  to  their  maja 
belles,  and  famous  dancers  of  the  bolero.  Throughout  all 
Spain  the  men,  however  poor,  have  a  gentleman-like  abundance 
of  leisure  ;  seeming  to  consider  it  the  attribute  of  a  true  caba- 
llero  never  to  be  in  a  hurry  ;  but  the  Andalusians  are  gay  as 
well  as  leisurely,  and  have  none  of  the  squalid  accompani 
ments  of  idleness.  The  adventurous  contraband  trade  which 
prevails  throughout  these  mountain  regions,  and  along  the 
maritime  borders  of  Andalusia,  is  doubtless  at  the  bottom  of 
this  galliard  character. 

In  contrast  to  the  costume  of  these  groups  was  that  of  two 
long-legged  Valeucians  conducting  a  donkey,  laden  with  articles 
of  merchandise  ;  their  musket  slung  crosswise  over  his  back 
ready  for  action.  They  wore  round  jackets  (jalecos),  wide 
lineu  bragas  or  drawers  scarce  reaching  to  the  knees  and 


28  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

looking  like  kilts,  red  fajas  or  sashes  swathed  tightly  round 
their  waists,  sandals  of  espartal  or  bass  weed,  colored  ker 
chiefs  round  their  heads  somewhat  in  the  style  of  turbans 
but  leaving  the  top  of  the  head  uncovered ;  in  short, 
their  whole  appearance  having  much  of  the  traditional  Moor 
ish  stamp. 

On  leaving  Loxa  we  were  joined  by  a  cavalier,  well  mounted 
and  well  armed,  and  followed  on  foot  by  an  escopetero  or  mus 
keteer.  He  saluted  us  courteously,  and  soon  let  us  into  his 
quality.  He  was  chief  of  the  customs,  or  rather,  I  should 
suppose,  chief  of  an  armed  company  whose  business  it  is  to 
patrol  the  roads  and  look  out  for  contrabandistas.  The  esco 
petero  was  one  of  his  guards.  In  the  course  of  our  morning's 
ride  I  drew  from  him  some  particulars  concerning  the  smug 
glers,  who  have  risen  to  be  a  kind  of  mongrel  chivalry  in 
Spain.  They  come  into  Andalusia,  he  said,  from  various 
parts,  but  especially  from  La  Mancha;  sometimes  to  receive 
goods,  to  be  smuggled  on  an  appointed  night  across  the  line 
at  the  plaza  or  strand  of  Gibraltar ;  sometimes  to  meet  a  vessel, 
which  is  to  hover  on  a  given  night  off  a  certain  pai-t  of  the 
coast.  They  keep  together  and  travel  in  the  night.  In  the 
daytime  they  lie  quiet  in  barrancos,  gullies  of  the  mountains 
or  lonely  farm-houses ;  where  they  are  generally  welj  received, 
as  they  make  the  family  liberal  presents  of  their  smuggled 
wares.  Indeed,  much  of  the  finery  and  trinkets  worn  by 
the  wives  and  daughters  of  the  mountain  hamlets  and 
farm-houses  are  presents  from  the  gay  and  open-handed  con 
trabandistas. 

Arrived  at  the  part  of  the  coast  where  a  vessel  is  to  meet 
them,  they  look  out  at  night  from  some  rocky  point  or  head 
land.  If  they  descry  a  sail  near  the  shore  they  make  a  con 
certed  signal ;  sometimes  it  consists  in  suddenly  displaying  a 
lantern  three  times  from  beneath  the  folds  of  a  cloak.  If  the 
signal  is  answered,  they  descend  to  the  shore  and  prepare  for 
quick  work.  The  vessel  runs  close  in  ;  all  her  boats  are  busy 
landing  the  smuggled  goods,  made  up  into  snug  packages  for 
transportation  on  horseback.  These  are  hastily  thrown  on  the 
beach,  as  hastily  gathered  up  and  packed  on  the  horses,  and 
then  the  contrabandistas  clatter  off  to  the  mountains.  They 
travel  by  the  roughest,  wildest,  and  most  solitary  roads, 
where  it  is  almost  fruitless  to  pursue  them.  The  custom-house 
guards  do  not  attempt  it :  they  take  a  different  course.  When 
they  hear  of  one  of  these  bands  returning  full  freighted 
through  the  mountains,  they  go  out  in  force,  sometimes  twelve 


THE  JOURNEY.  29 

infantry  and  eight  horsemen,  and  take  their  station  where  the 
mountain  defile  opens  into  the  plain.  The  infantry,  who  lie 
in  ambush  some  distance  within  the  defile,  suffer  the  band  to 
pass,  then  rise  and  fire  upon  them.  The  contrabandistas 
dash  forward,  but  are  met  in  front  by  the  horsemen.  A  wild 
skirmish  ensues.  The  contrabandistas,  if  hard  pressed,  become 
desperate.  Some  dismount,  use  their  horses  as  breastworks, 
and  fire  over  their  backs ;  others  cut  the  cords,  let  the  packs 
fall  off  to  delay  the  enemy,  and  endeavor  to  escape  with  their 
steeds.  Some  get  off  in  this  way  with  the  loss  of  their  pack 
ages  ;  some  are  taken,  horses,  packages,  and  all ;  others  aban 
don  everything,  and  make  their  escape  by  scrambling  up  the 
mountains.  "  And  then,"  cried  Sancho,  who  had  been  listening 
with  a  greedy  ear,  "se  hacen  ladrones  legitimos,  " — and  then 
they  become  legitimate  robbers. 

I  could  not  help  laughing  at  Sancho's  idea  of  a  legitimate 
calling  of  the  kind  ;  but  the  chief  of  customs  told  me  it  was 
really  the  case  that  the  smugglers,  when  thus  reduced  to 
extremity,  thought  they  had  a  kind  of  right  to  take  the  road, 
and  lay  travellers  under  contribution,  until  they  had  collected 
funds  enough  to  mount  and  equip  themselves  in  contrabandista 
style. 

Towards  noon  our  wayfaring  companion  took  leave  of  us 
and  turned  up  a  steep  defile,  followed  by  his  escopetero ;  and 
shortly  afterwards  we  emerged  from  the  mountains,  and 
entered  upon  the  far  famed  Vega  of  Granada. 

Our  last  midday's  repast  was  taken  under  a  grove  of  olive- 
trees  on  the  border  of  a  rivulet.  We  were  in  a  classical 
neighborhood ;  for  not  far  off  were  the  groves  and  orchards  of 
the  Soto  de  Roma.  This,  according  to  fabulous  tradition,  was 
a  retreat  founded  by  Count  Julian  to  console  his  daughter 
Florinda.  It  was  a  rural  resort  of  the  Moorish  kings  of 
Granada ;  and  has  in  modern  times  been  granted  to  the  Duke 
of  Wellington. 

Our  worthy  squire  made  a  half  melancholy  face  as  he  drew 
forth,  for  the  last  time,  the  contents  of  his  alforjas,  lamenting 
that  our  expedition  was  drawing  to  a  close,  for,  with  such 
cavaliers,  he  said,  he  could  travel  to  the  world's  end.  Our 
repast,  however,  was  a  gay  one  ;  made  under  such  delightful 
auspices.  The  day  was  without  a  cloud.  The  heat  of  the 
sun  was  tempered  by  cool  breezes  from  the  mountains.  Be 
fore  us  extended  the  glorious  Vega.  In  the  distance  was 
romantic  Granada  surmounted  by  the  ruddy  towers  of  the 
Allmmbra,  while  far  above  it  the  snowy  summits  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  shone  like  silver. 


30  THE  ALHAMBBA. 

Our  repast  finished,  we  spread  our  cloaks  and  took  our  last 
siesta  al  fresco,  lulled  by  the  humming  of  bees  among  the 
flowers  and  the  notes  of  doves  among  the  olive-trees.  When 
the  sultry  hours  were  passed  we  resumed  our  journey.  After 
a  time  we  overtook  a  pursy  little  man,  shaped  not  unlike  a 
toad  and  mounted  on  a  mule.  He  fell  into  conversation  with 
Sancho,  and  finding  we  were  strangers,  undertook  to  guide  us 
to  a  good  posada.  He  was  an  escribano  (notary),  he  said,  and 
knew  the  city  as  thoroughly  as  his  own  pocket.  "  Ah  Dios 
Senores !  what  a  city  you  are  going  to  see.  Such  streets  ! 
such  squares  !  such  palaces  !  and  then  the  women  —  ah  Santa 
Maria  purisima —  what  women  !  "  "  But  the  posada  you  talk 
of,"  said  I,  "  are  you  sure  it  is  a  good  one  ?  " 

"  Good  !  Santa  Maria !  the  best  in  Granada.  Salones 
grandes  —  camas  de  luxo  —  colchones  de  pluma  (grand  saloons 
—  luxurious  sleeping  rooms  —  beds  of  down).  Ah,  seiiores, 
you  will  fare  like  king  Chico  in  the  Alhambra." 

"  And  how  will  my  horses  fare  ?  "  cried  Sancho. 

"Like  king  Chico's  horses.  Chocolate  con  leche  y  bollos para 
almuerza"  (chocolate  and  milk  with  sugar  cakes  for  break 
fast),  giving  the  squire  a  knowing  wink  and  a  leer. 

After  such  satisfactory  accounts  nothing  more  was  to  be 
desired  on  that  head.  So  we  rode  quietly  on,  the  squab  little 
notary  taking  the  lead,  and  turning  to  us  every  moment  with 
some  fresh  exclamation  about  the  grandeurs  of  Granada  and 
the  famous  times  we  were  to  have  at  the  posada. 

Thus  escorted,  we  passed  between  hedges  of  aloes  and 
Indian  figs,  and  through  that  wilderness  of  gardens  with 
which  the  vega  is  embroidered,  and  arrived  about  sunset  at 
the  gates  of  the  city.  Our  officious  little  conductor  conveyed 
us  up  one  street  and  down  another,  until  he  i-ode  into  the  court 
yard  of  an  inn  where  lie  appeared  to  be  perfectly  at  home. 
Summoning  the  landlord  by  his  Christian  name,  he  committed 
us  to  his  care  as  two  caballeros  de  mucho  valor,  worthy  of  his 
best  apartments  and  most  sumptuous  fare.  We  were  instantly 
reminded  of  the  patronizing  stranger  who  introduced  Gil 
Bias  with  such  a  flourish  of  trumpets  to  the  host  and  hostess 
of  the  inn  at  Pennaflor,  ordering  trouts  for  his  supper,  and 
eating  voraciously  at  his  expense.  "  You  know  not  what 
you  possess,"  cried  he  to  the  innkeeper  and  his  wife.  "  You 
have  a  treasure  in  your  house.  Behold  in  this  young  gentle 
man  the  eighth  wonder  of  the  world  —  nothing  in  this  house 
is  too  good  for  Senor  Gil  Bias  of  Santillane,  who  deserves  to 
be  entertained  like  a  prince." 


PALACE   OF   THE  ALHAMBEA.  31 

Determined  that  the  little  notary  should  not  eat  trouts  at 
our  expense,  like  his  prototype  of  Pennaflor,  we  forbore  to  ask 
him  to  supper ;  nor  had  we  reason  to  reproach  ourselves  with 
ingratitude  ;  for  we  found  before  morning  the  little  varlet, 
who  was  no  doubt  a  good  friend  of  the  landlord,  had  decoyed 
us  into  one  of  the  shabbiest  posadas  in  Granada. 


PALACE  OF  THE  ALHAMBKA. 

To  the  traveller  imbued  with  a  feeling  for  the  historical  and 
poetical,  so  inseparably  intertwined  in  the  annals  of  romantic 
Spain,  the  Alhambra  is  as  much  an  object  of  devotion  as  is  the 
Caaba  to  all  true  Moslems.  How  many  legends  and  traditions, 
true  and  fabulous  ;  how  many  songs  and  ballads,  Arabian  and 
Spanish,  of  love  and  war  and  chivalry,  are  associated  with  this 
oriental  pile  !  It  was  the  royal  abode  of  the  Moorish  kings, 
where,  surrounded  with  the  splendors  and  refinements  of  Asi 
atic  luxury,  they  held  dominion  over  what  they  vaunted  as  a 
terrestrial  paradise,  and  made  their  last  stand  for  empire  in 
Spain.  The  royal  palace  forms  but  a  part  of  a  fortress,  the 
walls  of  which,  studded  with  towers,  stretch  irregularly  round 
the  whole  crest  of  a  hill,  a  spur  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  or  Snowy 
Mountains,  and  overlook  the  city  ;  externally  it  is  a  rude  con 
gregation  of  towers  and  battlements,  with  no  regularity  of 
plan  nor  grace  of  architecture,  and  giving  little  promise  of  the 
grace  and  beauty  which  prevail  within.  • 

In  the  time  of  the  Moors  the  fortress  was  capable  of  con 
taining  within  its  outward  precincts  an  army  of  forty  thou 
sand  men,  and  served  occasionally  as  a  stronghold  of  the 
sovereigns  against  their  rebellious  subjects.  After  the  king 
dom  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Christians,  the  Alham 
bra  continued  to  be  a  royal  demesne,  and  was  occasionally 
inhabited  by  the  Castilian  monarchs.  The  emperor  Charles  V. 
commenced  a  sumptuous  palace  within  its  walls,  but  was  de 
terred  from  completing  it  by  repeated  shocks  of  earthquakes. 
The  last  royal  residents  were  Philip  V.  and  his  beautiful  queen, 
Elizabetta  of  Parma,  early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  Great 
preparations  were  made  for  their  reception.  The  palace  and  gar 
dens  were  placed  in  a  state  of  repair,  and  a  new  suite  of  apart 
ments  erected,  and  decorated  by  artists  brought  from  Italy.  The 
sojourn  of  the  sovereigns  was  transient,  and  after  their  depart- 


32  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

are  the  palace  once  more  became  desolate.  Still  the  place 
was  maintained  with  some  military  state.  The  governor  held 
it  immediately  from  the  crown,  its  jurisdiction  extended  down 
into  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  and  was  independent  of  the  cap 
tain-general  of  Granada.  A  considerable  garrison  was  kept 
up,  the  governor  had  his  apartments  in  the  front  of  the  old 
Moorish  palace,  and  never  descended  into  Granada  without 
some  military  parade.  The  fortress,  in  fact,  was  a  little  town 
of  itself,  having  several  streets  of  houses  within  its  walls, 
together  with  a  Franciscan  convent  and  a  parochial  church. 

The  desertion  of  the  court,  however,  was  a  fatal  blow  to  the 
Alhambra.  Its  beautiful  halls  became  desolate,  and  some  of 
them  fell  to  ruin  ;  the  gardens  were  destroyed,  and  the  foun 
tains  ceased  to  play.  By  degrees  the  dwellings  became  filled 
with  a  loose  and  lawless  population  ;  contrabandistas,  who 
availed  themselves  of  its  independent  jurisdiction  to  carry  on 
a  wide  and  daring  course  of  smuggling,  and  thieves  and  rogues 
of  all  sorts,  who  made  this  their  place  of  refuge  whence  they 
might  depredate  upon  Granada  and  its  vicinity.  The  strong 
arm  of  government  at  length  interfered  ;  the  whole  commu 
nity  was  thoroughly  sifted ;  none  were  suffered  to  remain  but 
such  as  were  of  honest  character,  and  had  legitimate  right  to 
a  residence ;  the  greater  part  of  the  houses  were  demolished 
and  a  mere  hamlet  left,  with  the  parochial  church  and  the 
Franciscan  convent.  During  the  recent  troubles  in  Spain,  when 
Granada  was  in  the  hands  of  the  French,  the  Alhambra  was 
garrisoned  by  their  troops,  and  the  palace  was  occasionally 
inhabited  by  the  French  commander.  With  that  enlightened 
taste  which  has  ever  distinguished  the  French  nation  in  their 
conquests,  this  monument  of  Moorish  elegance  and  grandeur 
was  rescued  from  the  absolute  ruin  and  desolation  that  were 
overwhelming  it.  The  roofs  were  repaired,  the  saloons  and 
galleries  protected  from  the  weather,  the  gardens  cultivated, 
the  watercourses  restored,  the  fountains  once  more  made  to 
throw  up  their  sparkling  showers  ;  and  Spain  may  thank  her 
invaders  for  having  preserved  to  her  the  most  beautiful  and 
interesting  of  her  historical  monuments. 

On  the  departure  of  the  French  they  blew  up  several  towers 
of  the  outer  wall,  and  left  the  fortifications  scarcely  tenable. 
Since  that  time  the  military  importance  of  the  post  is  at  an 
end.  The  garrison  is  a  handful  of  invalid  soldiers,  whose 
principal  duty  is  to  guard  some  of  the  outer  towers,  which 
serve  occasionally  as  a  prison  of  state ;  and  the  governor, 
abandoning  the  lofty  hill  of  the  Alhambra,  resides  in  the  centre 


PALACE   OF   THE  ALBAMBRA.  33 

of  Granada,  for  the  more  convenient  despatch  of  his  official 
duties.  I  cannot  conclude  this  brief  notice  of  the  state  of  the 
fortress  without  bearing  testimony  to  the  honorable  exertions 
of  its  present  commander,  Don  Francisco  de  Serna,  who  is 
tasking  all  the  limited  resources  at  his  command  to  put  the 
palace  in  a  state  of  repair,  and  by  his  judicious  precautions, 
has  for  some  time  arrested  its  too  certain  decay.  Had  his 
predecessors  discharged  the  duties  of  their  station  with  equal 
fidelity,  the  Alhambra  might  yet  have  remained  in  almost  its 
pristine  beauty :  were  government  to  second  him  with  means 
equal  to  his  zeal,  this  relic  of  it  might  still  be  preserved  for 
many  generations  to  adorn  the  land,  and  attract  the  curious 
and  enlightened  of  every  clime. 

Our  first  object  of  course,  on  the  morning  after  our  arrival, 
was  a  visit  to  this  time-honored  edifice  ;  it  has  been  so  often, 
however,  and  so  minutely  described  by  ti'avellers,  that  I  shall 
not  undertake  to  give  a  comprehensive  and  elaborate  account 
of  it,  but  merely  occasional  sketches  of  parts  with  the  inci 
dents  and  associations  connected  with  them. 

Leaving  our  posada,  and  traversing  the  renowned  square  of 
the  Vivarrambla,  once  the  scene  of  Moorish  jousts  and  tour 
naments,  now  a  crowded  market-place,  we  proceeded  along  the 
Zacatin,  the  main  street  of  what,  in  the  time  of  the  Moors, 
was  the  great  Bazaar,  and  where  small  shops  and  narrow 
alleys  still  retain  the  oriental  character.  Crossing  an  open 
place  in  front  of  the  palace  of  the  captain-general,  we  ascended 
a  confined  and  winding  street,  the  name  of  which  reminded  us 
of  the  chivalric  days  of  Granada.  It  is  called  the  Calle,  or 
street  of  the  Gomeres,  from  a  Moorish  family  famous  in  chron 
icle  and  song.  This  street  led  up  to  the  Puerta  de  las  Grana- 
das,  a  massive  gateway  of  Grecian  architecture,  built  by 
Charles  V.,  forming  the  entrance  to  the  domains  of  the  Al 
hambra. 

At  the  gate  were  two  or  three  ragged  superannuated  sol 
diers,  dozing  on  a  stone  bench,  the  successors  of  the  Zegris 
and  the  Abencerrages ;  while  a  tall,  meagre  varlet,  whose 
rusty-brown  cloak  was  evidently  intended  to  conceal  the 
ragged  state  of  his  nether  garments,  was  lounging  in  the  sun 
shine  and  gossiping  with  an  ancient  sentinel  on  duty.  He 
joined  us  as  we  entered  the  gate,  and  offered  his  services  to 
show  us  the  fortress. 

I  have  a  traveller's  dislike  to  officious  ciceroni,  and  did  not 
altogether  like  the  garb  of  the  applicant. 

"You  are  well  acquainted  with  the  place,  I  presume  ?" 


34  TEE  ALHAMBRA. 

"Ninguno  mas;  pues  senor,  soy  hijo  de  la  Alhambra."  — 
(Nobody  better ;  in  fact,  sir,  I  am  a  son  of  the  Alhambra !) 

The  common  Spaniards  have  certainly  a  most  poetical  way 
of  expressing  themselves.  "  A  son  of  the  Alhambra  !  "  the 
appellation  caught  me  at  once ;  the  very  tattered  garb  of  my 
new  acquaintance  assumed  a  dignity  in  my  eyes.  It  was  em 
blematic  of  the  fortunes  of  the  place,  and  befitted  the  progeny 
of  a  ruin. 

I  put  some  farther  questions  to  him,  and  found  that  his 
title  was  legitimate.  His  family  had  lived  in  the  fortress 
from  generation  to  generation  ever  since  the  time  of  the  con 
quest.  His  name  was  Mateo  Ximenes.  "  Then,  perhaps," 
said  I,  "you  may  be  a  descendant  from  the  great  Cardinal 
Ximenes  ?  "  —  "  Dios  Sabe  !  God  knows,  Senor  !  It  may  be 
so.  We  are  the  oldest  family  in  the  Alhambra,  —  Christi 
anas  Viejos,  old  Christians,  without  any  taint  of  Moor  or  Jew. 
I  know  we  belong  to  some  great  family  or  other,  but  I  forget 
whom.  My  father  knows  all  about  it :  he  has  the  coat-of-arms 
hanging  up  in  his  cottage,  up  in  the  fortress."  —  There  is  not 
any  Spaniard,  however  poor,  but  has  some  claim  to  high  pedi 
gree.  The  first  title  of  this  ragged  worthy,  however,  had 
completely  captivated  me,  so  I  gladly  accepted  the  services  of 
the  "  son  of  the  Alhambra." 

We  now  found  ourselves  in  a  deep  narrow  ravine,  filled 
with  beautiful  groves,  with  a  steep  avenue,  and  various  foot 
paths  winding  through  it,  bordered  with  stone  seats,  and 
ornamented  with  fountains.  To  our  left,  we  beheld  the 
towers  of  the  Alhambra  beetling  above  us ;  to  our  right,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  ravine  we  were  equally  dominated  by 
rival  towers  on  a  rocky  eminence.  These,  we  were  told,  were 
the  Torres  Vermejos,  or  vermilion  towers,  so  called  from  their 
ruddy  hue.  No  one  knows  their  origin.  They  are  of  a  date 
much  anterior  to  the  Alhambra  :  some  suppose  them  to  have 
been  built  by  the  Romans  ;  others,  by  some  wandering  colony 
of  Phoenicians.  Ascending  the  steep  and  shady  avenue,  we 
arrived  at  the  foot  of  a  huge  square  Moorish  tower,  forming  a 
kind  of  barbican,  through  which  passed  the  main  entrance  to 
the  fortress.  Within  the  barbican  was  another  group  of  vet 
eran  invalids,  one  mounting  guard  at  the  portal,  while  the 
rest,  wrapped  in  their  tattered  cloaks,  slept  on  the  stone 
benches.  This  portal  is  called  the  Gate  of  Justice,  from  the 
tribunal  held  within  its  porch  during  the  Moslem  domination, 
for  the  immediate  trial  of  petty  causes  :  a  custom  common  to 
the  oriental  nations,  and  occasionally  alluded  to  in  the  Sacred 


PALACE   OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.  35 

Scriptures.  "  Judges  and  officers  shalt  thou  make  thee  in  all 
thy  gates,  and  they  shall  judge  the  people  with  just  judg 
ment." 

The  great  vestibule,  or  porch  of  the  gate,  is  formed  by  an 
immense  Arabian  arch,  of  the  horseshoe  form,  which  springs 
to  half  the  height  of  the  tower.  On  the  keystone  of  this  arch 
is  engraven  a  gigantic  hand.  Within  the  vestibule,  on  the 
keystone  of  the  portal,  is  sculptured,  in  like  manner,  a  gigan 
tic  key.  Those  who  pretend  to  some  knowledge  of  Moham 
medan  symbols,  affirm  that  the  hand  is  the  emblem  of  doctrine ; 
the  five  fingers  designating  the  five  principal  commandments 
of  the  creed  of  Islam,  fasting,  pilgrimage,  alms-giving,  ablu 
tion,  and  war  against  infidels.  The  key,  say  they,  is  the 
emblem  of  the  faith  or  of  power  ;  the  key  of  Daoud  or  David, 
transmitted  to  the  prophet.  "  And  the  key  of  the  house  of 
David  will  I  lay  upon  his  shoulder ;  so  he  shall  open  and 
none  shall  shut,  and  he  shall  shut  and  none  shall  open." 
(Isaiah  xxii.  22.)  The  key  we  are  told  was  emblazoned  on  the 
standard  of  the  Moslems  in  opposition  to  the  Christian  emblem 
of  the  cross,  when  they  subdued  Spain  or  Andalusia.  It  be 
tokened  the  conquering  power  invested  in  the  prophet.  "He 
that  hath  the  key  of  David,  he  that  openeth  and  no  man  shut- 
teth  ;  and  shutteth  and  no  man  openeth.  (Eev.  iii.  7.) 

A  different  explanation  of  these  emblems,  however,  was 
given  by  the  legitimate  son  of  the  Alhambra,  and  one  more  in 
unison  with  the  notions  of  the  common  people,  who  attach 
something  of  mystery  and  magic  to  everything  Moorish,  and 
have  all  kinds  of  superstitions  connected  with  this  old  Moslem 
fortress.  According  to  Mateo,  it  was  a  tradition  handed  down 
from  the  oldest  inhabitants,  and  which  he  had  from  his  father 
and  grandfather,  that  the  hand  and  key  were  magical  devices 
on  which  the  fate  of  the  Alhambra  depended.  The  Moorish 
king  who  built  it  was  a  great  magician,  or,  as  some  believed, 
had  sold  himself  to  the  devil,  and  had  laid  the  whole  fortress 
under  a  magic  spell.  By  this  means  it  had  remained  standing 
for  several  hundred  years,  in  defiance  of  storms  and  earth 
quakes,  while  almost  all  other  buildings  of  the  Moors  had 
fallen  to  ruin,  and  disappeared.  This  spell,  the  tradition  went 
on  to  say,  would  last  until  the  hand  on  the  outer  arch  should 
reach  down  and  grasp  the  key,  when  the  whole  pile  would 
tumble  to  pieces,  and  all  the  treasures  buried  beneath  it  by 
the  Moors  would  be  revealed. 

Notwithstanding  this  ominous  prediction,  we  ventured  to 
pass  though  the  spell-bound  gateway,  feeling  some  little  as- 


36  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

surance  against  magic  art  in  the  protection  of  the  Virgin,  a 
statue  of  whom  we  observed  above  the  portal. 

After  passing  through  the  barbican,  we  ascended  a  narrow 
lane,  winding  between  walls,  and  came  on  an  open  esplanade 
within  the  fortress,  called  the  Plaza  de  los  Algibes,  or  Place 
of  the  Cisterns,  from  great  reservoirs  which  undermine  it, 
cut  in  the  living  rock  by  the  Moors  to  receive  the  water 
brought  by  conduits  from  the  Darro,  for  the  supply  of  the 
fortress.  Here,  also,  is  a  well  of  immense  depth,  furnishing 
the  purest  and  coldest  of  water;  another  monument  of  the 
delicate  taste  of  the  Moors,  who  were  indefatigable  in  their 
exertions  to  obtain  that  element  in  its  crystal  purity. 

In  front  of  this  esplanade  is  the  splendid  pile  commenced 
by  Charles  V.,  and  intended,  it  is  said,  to  eclipse  the  resi 
dence  of  the  Moorish  kings.  Much  of  the  oriental  edifice 
intended  for  the  winter  season  was  demolished  to  make  way 
for  this  massive  pile.  The  grand  entrance  was  blocked  up  ; 
so  that  the  present  entrance  to  the  Moorish  palace  is  through 
a  simple  and  almost  humble  portal  in  a  corner.  With  all  the 
massive  grandeur  and  architectural  merit  of  the  palace  of 
Charles  V.,  we  regarded  it  as  an  arrogant  intruder,  and  pass 
ing  by  it  with  a  feeling  almost  of  scorn,  rang  at  the  Moslem 
portal. 

While  waiting  for  admittance,  our  self-imposed  cicerone, 
Mateo  Ximenes,  informed  us  that  the  royal  palace  was  in 
trusted  to  the  care  of  a  worthy  old  maiden  dame  called  Dona 
Antonia-Molina,  but  who,  according  to  Spanish  custom,  went 
by  the  more  neighborly  appellation  of  Tia  Antonia  (Aunt 
Antonia),  who  maintained  the  Moorish  halls  and  gardens  in 
order  and  showed  them  to  strangers.  While  we  were  talking, 
the  door  was  opened  by  a  plump  little  black-eyed  Andalusian 
damsel,  whom  Mateo  addressed  as  Dolores,  but  who  from  her 
bright  looks  and  cheerful  disposition  evidently  merited  a 
merrier  name.  Mateo  informed  me  in  a  whisper  that  she  was 
the  niece  of  Tia  Antonia,  and  I  found  she  was  the  good  fairy 
who  was  to  conduct  us  through  the  enchanted  palace.  Under 
her  guidance  we  crossed  the  threshold,  and  were  at  once 
transported,  as  if  by  magic  wand,  into  other  times  and  an 
oriental  realm,  and  were  treading  the  scenes  of  Arabian  story. 
Nothing  could  be  in  greater  contrast  than  the  unpromising 
exterior  of  the  pile  with  the  scene  now  before  us.  We  found 
ourselves  in  a  vast  patio  or  court  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
in  length,  and  upwards  of  eighty  feet  in  breadth,  paved  with 
white  marble,  and  decorated  at  each  end  with  light  Moorish 


THE  PALACE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.        37 

peristyles,  one  of  which  supported  an  elegant  gallery  of  fretted 
architecture.  Along  the  mouldings  of  the  cornices  and  on 
various  parts  of  the  walls  were  escutcheons  and  ciphers,  and 
cufic  and  Arabic  characters  in  high  relief,  repeating  the  pious 
mottoes  of  the  Moslem  monarchs,  the  builders  of  the  Alharn- 
bra,  or  extolling  their  grandeur  and  munificence.  Along  the 
centre  of  the  court  extended  an  immense  basin  or  tank  (es- 
tanque)  a  hundred  and  twenty-four  feet  in  length,  twenty- 
seven  in  breadth,  and  five  in  depth,  receiving  its  water  from 
two  marble  vases.  Hence  it  is  called  the  Court  of  the  Alberca 
(from  al  Beerkah,  the  Arabic  for  a  pond  or  tank).  Great 
numbers  of  gold-fish  were  to  be  seen  gleaming  through  the 
waters  of  the  basin,  and  it  was  bordered  by  hedges  of  roses. 

Passing  from  the  court  of  the  Alberca  under  a  Moorish  arch 
way,  we  entered  the  renowned  Court  of  Lions.  No  part  of 
the  edifice  gives  a  more  complete  idea  of  its  original  beauty 
than  this,  for  none  has  suffered  so  little  from  the  ravages  of 
time.  In  the  centre  stands  the  fountain  famous  in  song  and 
story.  The  alabaster  basins  still  shed  their  diamond  drops ; 
the  twelve  lions  which  support  them,  and  give  the  court  its 
name,  still  cast  forth  crystal  streams  as  in  the  days  of  Boabdil. 
The  lions,  however,  are  unworthy  of  their  fame,  being  of  mis 
erable  sculpture,  the  work  probably  of  some  Christian  cap 
tive.  The  court  is  laid  out  in  flower-beds,  instead  of  its 
ancient  and  appropriate  pavement  of  tiles  or  marble ;  the 
alteration,  an  instance  of  bad  taste,  was  made  by  the  French 
when  in  possession  of  Granada.  Round  the  four  sides  of  the 
court  are  light  Arabian  arcades  of  open  filigree  work  sup 
ported  by  slender  pillars  of  white  marble,  which  it  is  sup 
posed  were  originally  gilded.  The  architecture,  like  that  in 
most  parts  of  the  interior  of  the  palace,  is  characterized  by 
elegance,  rather  than  grandeur;  bespeaking  a  delicate  and 
graceful  taste,  and  a  disposition  to  indolent  enjoyment. 
When  one  looks  upon  the  fairy  traces  of  the  peristyles,  and 
the  apparently  fragile  fretwork  of  the  walls,  it  is  difficult  to 
believe  that  so  much  has  survived  the  wear  and  tear  of  centu 
ries,  the  shocks  of  earthquakes,  the  violence  of  war,  and  the 
quiet,  though  no  less  baneful,  pilferings  of  the  tasteful  trav 
eller  :  it  is  almost  sufficient  to  excuse  the  popular  tradition, 
that  the  whole  is  protected  by  a  magic  charm. 

On  one  side  of  the  court  a  rich  portal  opens  into  the  hall  of 
the  Abencerrages ;  so  called  from  the  gallant  cavaliers  of  that 
illustrious  line  who  were  here  perfidiously  massacred.  There 
are  some  who  doubt  the  whole  story,  but  our  humble  cicerone 


38  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

Mateo  pointed  out  the  very  wicket  of  the  portal  through 
which  they  were  introduced  one  by  one  into  the  Court  of 
Lions,  and  the  white  marble  fountain  in  the  centre  of  the 
hall  beside  which  they  were  beheaded.  He  showed  us  also 
certain  broad  ruddy  stains  on  the  pavement,  traces  of  their 
blood,  which,  according  to  popular  belief,  can  never  be  effaced. 

Finding  we  listened  to  him  apparently  with  easy  faith,  he 
added,  that  there  was  often  heard  at  night,  in  the  Court  of 
Lions,  a  low  confused  sound,  resembling  the  murmuring  of  a 
multitude ;  and  now  and  then  a  faint  tinkling,  like  the  distant 
clank  of  chains.  These  sounds  were  made  by  the  spirits  of 
the  murdered  Abencerrages  ;  who  nightly  haunt  the  scene  of 
their  suffering  and  invoke  the  vengeance  of  Heaven  on  their 
destroyer. 

The  sounds  in  question  had  no  doubt  been  produced,  as  I 
had  afterwards  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining,  by  the  bub 
bling  currents  and  tinkling  falls  of  water  conducted  under 
the  pavement  through  pipes  and  channels  to  supply  the  foun 
tains  ;  but  I  was  too  considerate  to  intimate  such  an  idea  to 
the  humble  chronicler  of  the  Alhambra. 

Encouraged  by  my  easy  credulity,  Mateo  gave  me  the  fol 
lowing  as  an  undoubted  fact,  which  he  had  from  his  grand 
father  : 

There  was  once  an  invalid  soldier,  who  had  charge  of  the 
Alhambra  to  show  it  to  strangers :  as  he  was  one  evening, 
about  twilight,  passing  through  the  Court  of  Lions,  he  heard 
footsteps  on  the  hall  of  the  Abencerrages ;  supposing  some 
strangers  to  be  lingering  there,  he  advanced  to  attend  upon 
them,  when  to  his  astonishment  he  beheld  four  Moors,  richly 
dressed,  with  gilded  cuirasses  and  cimeters,  and  poniards 
glittering  with  precious  stones.  They  were  walking  to  and 
fro,  with  solemn  pace  ;  but  paused  and  beckoned  to  him.  The 
old  soldier,  however,  took  to  flight,  and  could  never  afterwards 
be  prevailed  upon  to  enter  the  Alhambra.  Thus  it  is  that 
men  sometimes  turn  their  backs  upon  fortune ;  for  it  is  the 
firm  opinion  of  Mateo,  that  the  Moors  intended  to  reveal 
the  place  where  their  treasures  lay  buried.  A  successor  to  the 
invalid  soldier  was  more  knowing ;  he  came  to  the  Alhambra 
poor ;  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  went  off  to  Malaga,  bought 
houses,  set  up  a  carriage,  and  still  lives  there  one  of  the  rich 
est  as  well  as  oldest  men  of  the  place ;  all,  which,  Mateo 
sagely  surmised,  was  in  consequence  of  his  finding  out  the 
golden  secret  of  these  phantom  Moors. 

I  now  perceived  I  had  made  an  invaluable  acquaintance  in 


THE  PALACE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.        39 

this  son  of  the  Alhambra,  one  who  knew  all  the  apocryphal 
history  of  the  place,  and  firmly  believed  in  it,  and  whose 
memory  was  stuffed  with  a  kind  of  knowledge  for  which  I 
have  a  lurking  fancy,  but  which  is  too  apt  to  be  considered 
rubbish  by  less  indulgent  philosophers.  I  determined  to  cul 
tivate  the  acquaintance  of  this  learned  The  ban. 

Immediately  opposite  the  hall  of  the  Abencerrages  a  portal, 
richly  adorned,  leads  into  a  hall  of  less  tragical  associa 
tions.  It  is  light  and  lofty,  exquisitely  graceful  in  its  archi 
tecture,  paved  with  white  marble,  and  bears  the  suggestive 
name  of  the  Hall  of  the  Two  Sisters.  Some  destroy  the 
romance  of  the  name  by  attributing  it  to  two  enormous  slabs 
of  alabaster,  which  lie  side  by  side,  and  form  a  great  part  of 
the  pavement ;  an  opinion  strongly  supported  by  Mateo 
Ximenes.  Others  are  disposed  to  give  the  name  a  more 
poetical  significance,  as  the  vague  memorial  of  Moorish  beau 
ties  who  once  graced  this  hall,  which  was  evidently  a  part  of 
the  royal  harem.  This  opinion  I  was  happy  to  find  enter 
tained  by  our  little  bright-eyed  guide,  Dolores,  who  pointed 
to  a  balcony  over  an  inner  porch  ;  which  gallery,  she  had  been 
told,  belonged  to  the  women's  apartment.  "  You  see,  senoiy' 
said  she,  "  it  is  all  grated  and  latticed,  like  the  gallery  in  a 
convent  chapel  where  the  nuns  hear  mass  ;  for  the  Moorish 
kings,"  added  she,  indignantly,  "shut  up  their  wives  just  like 
nuns." 

The  latticed  "  jalousies,"  in  fact,  still  remain,  whence  the 
dark-eyed  beauties  of  the  harem  might  gaze  unseen  upon  the 
zambras  and  other  dances  and  entertainments  of  the  hall 
below. 

On  each  side  of  this  hall  are  recesses  or  alcoves  for  otto 
mans  and  couches,  on  which  the  voluptuous  lords  of  the  Alham 
bra  indulged  in  that  dreamy  repose  so  dear  to  the  Orientalists. 
A  cupola  or  lantern  admits  a  tempered  light  from  above  and 
a  free  circulation  of  air ;  while  on  one  side  is  heard  the  re 
freshing  sound  of  waters  from  the  fountain  of  the  lions,  and 
on  the  other  side  the  soft  plash  from  the  basin  in  the  garden 
of  Lindaraxa. 

It  is  impossible  to  contemplate  this  scene  so  perfectly  Orien 
tal  without  feeling  the  early  associations  of  Arabian  romance, 
and  almost  expecting  to  see  the  white  arm  of  some  mysterious 
princess  beckoning  from  the  gallery,  or  some  dark  eye  spark 
ling  through  the  lattice.  The  abode  of  beauty  is  here,  as  if 
it  had  been  inhabited  but  yesterday ;  but  where  are  the  two 
sisters ;  where  the  Zoraydas  and  Lindaraxas  ! 


40  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

An  abundant  supply  of  water,  brought  from  the  mountains 
by  old  Moorish  aqueducts,  circulates  throughout  the  palace, 
supplying  its  baths  and  fishpools,  sparkling  in  jets  within  its 
halls,  or  murmuring  in  channels  along  the  marble  pavements. 
When  it  has  paid  its  tribute  to  the  royal  pile,  and  visited  its 
gardens  and  parterres,  it  flows  down  the  long  avenue  leading 
to  the  city,  tinkling  in  rills,  gushing  in  fountains,  and  main 
taining  a  perpetual  verdure  in  those  groves  that  embower  and 
beautify  the  whole  hill  of  the  Alhambra. 

Those  only  who  have  sojourned  in  the  ardent  climates  of 
the  South,  can  appreciate  the  delights  of  an  abode,  combining 
the  breezy  coolness  of  the  mountain  with  the  freshness  and 
verdure  of  the  valley.  While  the  city  below  pants  with  the 
noontide  heat,  and  the  parched  Vega  trembles  to  the  eye,  the 
delicate  airs  from  the  Sierra  Nevada  play  through  these  lofty 
halls,  bringing  with  them  the  sweetness  of  the  surrounding 
gardens.  Everything  invites  to  that  indolent  repose,  the 
bliss  of  southern  climes  ;  and  while  the  half-shut  eye  looks 
out  from  shaded  balconies  upon  the  glittering  landscape,  the 
ear  is  lulled  by  the  rustling  of  groves,  and  the  murmur  of  run 
ning  streams. 

I  forbear  for  the  present,  however,  to  describe  the  other 
delightful  apartments  of  the  palace.  My  object  is  merely  to 
give  the  reader  a  general  introduction  into  an  abode  where,  if 
so  disposed,  he  may  linger  and  loiter  with  me  day  by  day 
unfil  we  gradually  become  familiar  with  all  its  localities. 


NOTE  ON  MORISCO   ARCHITECTURE. 

To  an  unpractised  eye  the  light  relievos  and  fanciful  arabesques  which 
cover  the  walls  of  the  Alhambra  appear  to  have  been  sculptured  by  the 
hand,  with  a  minute  and  patient  labor,  an  inexhaustible  variety  of  detail, 
yet  a  general  uniformity  and  harmony  of  design  truly  astonishing;  and 
this  may  especially  be  said  of  the  vaults  and  cupolas,  which  are  wrought 
like  honey-combs,  or  frostwork,  with  stalactites  and  pendants  which  con 
found  the  beholder  with  the  seeming  intricacy  of  their  patterns.  The 
astonishment  ceases,  however,  when  it  is  discovered  that  this  is  all  stucco- 
work;  plates  of  plaster  of  Paris,  cast  in  moulds  and  skilfully  joined  so  as 
to  form  patterns  of  every  size  and  form.  This  mode  of  diapering  walls 
with  arabesques  and  stuccoing  the  vaults  with  grotto-work,  was  invented 
in  Damascus;  but  highly  improved  by  the  Moors  in  Morocco,  to  whom 
Saracenic  architecture  owes  its  most  graceful  and  fanciful  details.  The 
process  by  which  all  this  fairy  tracery  was  produced  was  ingeniously 
simple.  The  wall  in  its  naked  state  was  divided  off  by  lines  crossing  at 
right  angles,  such  as  artists  use  in  copying  a  picture;  over  these  were 
drawn  a  succession  of  intersecting  segments  of  circles.  By  the  aid  of 
these  the  artists  could  work  with  celerity  and  certainty,  and  from  the 


IMPORTANT  NEGOTIATIONS.  41 

mere  intersection  of  the  plain  and  curved  lines  arose  the  interminable 
variety  of  patterns  and  the  general  uniformity  of  their  character.1 

Much  gilding  was  used  in  the  stucco-work,  especially  of  the  cupolas: 
and  the  interstices  were  delicately  pencilled  with  brilliant  colors,  such  as 
vermilion  and  lapis  lazuli,  laid  on  with  the  whites  of  eggs.  The  primi 
tive  colors  alone  were  used,  says  Ford,  by  the  Egyptians,  Greeks,  and 
Arabs,  in  the  early  period  of  art;  and  they  prevail  in  the  Alhambra  when 
ever  the  artist  has  been  Arabic  or  Moorish.  It  is  remarkable  how  much 
of  their  original  brilliancy  remains  after  the  lapse  of  several  centuries. 

The  lower  part  of  the  walls  in  the  saloons,  to  the  height  of  several  feet, 
is  incrusted  with  glazed  tiles,  joined  like  the  plates  of  stucco-work,  so  as 
to  form  various  patterns.  On  some  of  them  are  emblazoned  the  escutch 
eons  of  the  Moslem  kings,  traversed  with  a  band  and  motto.  These 
glazed  tiles  (azulejos  in  Spanish,  az-zulaj  in  Arabic)  are  of  Oriental  origin; 
their  coolness,  cleanliness,  and  freedom  from  vermin,  render  them  ad 
mirably  fitted  in  sultry  climates  for  paving  halls  and  fountains ;  incrust- 
ing  bathing  rooms  and  lining  the  walls  of  chambers.  Ford  is  inclined  to 
give  them  great  antiquity.  From  their  prevailing  colors,  sapphire  and 
blue,  he  deduces  that  they  may  have  formed  the  kind  of  pavements 
alluded  to  in  the  sacred  Scriptures  —  "  There  was  under  his  feet  as  it 
were  a  paved  work  of  a  sapphire  stone"  (Exod.  xxiv.  10);  and  again, 
"Behold  I  will  lay  thy  stones  with  fair  colors,  and  'lay  thy  foundations 
with  sapphires"  (Isaiah  liv.  11). 

These  glazed  or  porcelain  tiles  were  introduced  into  Spain  at  an  early 
date  by  the  Moslems.  Some  are  to  be  seen  among  the  Moorish  ruins 
which  have  been  there  upwards  of  eight  centuries.  Manufactures  of 
them  still  exist  in  the  peninsula,  and  they  are  much  used  in  the  best 
Spanish  houses,  especially  in  the  southern  provinces,  for  paving  and 
lining  the  summer  apartments. 

The  Spaniards  introduced  them  into  the  Netherlands  when  they  had 
possession  of  that  country.  The  people  of  Holland  adopted  them  with 
avidity,  as  wonderfully  suited  to  their  passion  for  household  cleanliness; 
and  thus  these  Oriental  inventions,  the  azulejos  of  the  Spanish,  the  az- 
zulaj  of  the  Arabs,  have  come  to  be  commonly  known  as  Dutch  tiles. 


IMPORTANT  NEGOTIATIONS.— THE  AUTHOR  SUC 
CEEDS  TO   THE  THRONE   OF  BOABDIL. 

THE  day  was  nearly  spent  before  we  could  tear  ourself  from 
this  region  of  poetry  and  romance  to  descend  to  the  city  and 
return  to  the  forlorn  realities  of  a  Spanish  posada.  In  a  visit 
of  ceremony  to  the  Governor  of  the  Alhambra,  to  whom  we 
had  brought  letters,  we  dwelt  with  enthusiasm  on  the  scenes 
we  had  witnessed,  and  could  not  but  express  surprise  that  he 
should  reside  in  the  city  when  he  had  such  a  paradise  at  his 
command.  He  pleaded  the  inconvenience  of  a  residence  in 
the  palace  from  its  situation  on  the  crest  of  a  hill,  distant 

1  See  Urquhart's  Pillars  of  Hercules,  B.  iii.  C.  8. 


42  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

from  the  seat  of  business  and  the  resorts  of  social  intercourse. 
It  did  very  well  for  monarch s,  who  often  had  need  of  castle 
walls  to  defend  them  from  their  own  subjects.  "But  senors," 
added  he,  smiling,  "  if  you  think  a  residence  there  so  desirable, 
my  apartments  in  the  Alhambra  are  at  your  service." 

It  is  a  common  and  almost  indispensable  point  of  polite 
ness  in  a  Spaniard,  to  tell  you  his  house  is  yours.  —  "  Esta 
casa  es  siempre  a  la  disposicion  de  Vm."  "This  house  is 
always  at  the  command  of  your  Grace."  In  fact,  anything  of 
his  which  you  admire,  is  immediately  offered  to  you.  It  is 
equally  a  mark  of  good  breeding  in  you  not  to  accept  it ;  so 
we  merely  bowed  our  acknowledgments  of  the  courtesy  of  the 
Governor  in  offering  us  a  royal  palace.  We  were  mistaken, 
however.  The  Governor  was  in  earnest.  "  You  will  find  a 
rambling  set  of  empty,  unfurnished  rooms,"  said  he ;  "  but 
Tia  Antonia,  who  has  charge  of  the  palace,  may  be  able  to  put 
them  in  some  kind  of  order;  and  to  take  care  of  you  while 
you  are  there.  If  you  can  make  any  arrangement  with  her 
for  your  accommodation,  and  are  content  with  scanty  fare  in  a 
royal  abode,  the  palace  of  King  Chico  is  at  your  service." 

We  took  the  Governor  at  his  word,  and  hastened  up  the 
steep  Calle  de  los  Gomeres,  and  through  the  Great  Gate  of 
Justice,  to  negotiate  with  Dame  Antonia ;  doubting  at  times 
if  this  were  not  a  dream,  and  fearing  at  times  that  the  sage 
Duefia  of  the  fortress  might  be  slow  to  capitulate.  We  knew 
we  had  one  friend  at  least  in  the  garrison,  who  would  be  in 
our  favor,  the  bright-eyed  little  Dolores,  whose  good  graces 
we  had  propitiated  on  our  first  visit ;  and  who  hailed  our 
return  to  the  palace  with  her  brightest  looks. 

All,  however,  went  smoothly.  The  good  Tia  Antonia  had  a 
little  furniture  to  put  in  the  rooms,  but  it  was  of  the  common 
est  kind.  We  assured  her  we  could  bivouac  on  the  floor.  She 
could  supply  our  table  ;  but  only  in  her  own  simple  way  —  we 
wanted  nothing  better.  Her  niece,  Dolores,  would  wait  upon 
us  —  and  at  the  word  we  threw  up  our  hats  and  the  bargain 
was  complete. 

The  very  next  day  we  took  up  our  abode  in  the  palace,  and 
never  did  sovereigns  share  a  divided  throne  with  more  perfect 
harmony.  Several  days  passed  by  like  a  dream,  when  my 
worthy  associate,  being  summoned  to  Madrid  on  diplomatic 
duties,  was  compelled  to  abdicate,  leaving  me  sole  monarch  of 
this  shadowy  realm.  For  myself,  being  in  a  manner  a  hap 
hazard  loiterer  about  the  world  and  prone  to  linger  in  its 
pleasant  places,  here  have  I  been  suffering  day  by  day  to  steal 


IMPORTANT  NEGOTIATIONS.  43 

away  unheeded,  spell-bound,  for  aught  I  know,  in  this  old 
enchanted  pile.  Having  always  a  companionable  feeling  for 
my  reader,  and  being  prone  to  live  with  him  on  confidential 
terms,  I  shall  make  it  a  point  to  communicate  to  him  my 
reveries  and  researches  during  this  state  of  delicious  thral 
dom.  If  they  have  the  power  of  imparting  to  his  imagination 
any  of  the  witching  charms  of  the  place,  he  will  not  repine  at 
lingering  with  me  for  a  season  in  the  legendary  halls  of  the 
Alhambra. 

And  first  it  is  proper  to  give  him  some  idea  of  my  domestic 
arrangements ;  they  are  rather  of  a  simple  kind  for  the  occu 
pant  of  a  regal  palace  ;  but  I  trust  they  will  be  less  liable  to 
disastrous  reverses  than  those  of  my  royal  predecessors. 

My  quarters  are  at  one  end  of  the  Governor's  apartment,  a 
suite  of  empty  chambers,  in  front  of  the  palace,  looking  out 
upon  the  great  esplanade  called  la  plaza  de  los  algibes  (the 
place  of  the  cisterns)  ;  the  apartment  is  modern,  but  the  end 
opposite  to  nay  sleeping-room  communicates  with  a  cluster  of 
little  chambers,  partly  Moorish,  partly  Spanish,  allotted  to  the 
chatelaine  Dona  Antonia  and  her  family.  In  consideration  of 
keeping  the  palace  in  order,  the  good  dame  is  allowed  all  the 
perquisites  received  from  visitors,  and  all  the  produce  of  the 
gardens ;  excepting  that  she  is  expected  to  pay  an  occasional 
tribute  of  fruits  and  flowers  to  the  Governor.  Her  family 
consists  of  a  nephew  and  niece,  the  children  of  two  different 
brothers.  The  nephew,  Manuel  Molina,  is  a  young  man  of 
sterling  worth  and  Spanish  gravity.  He  had  served  in  the 
army,  both  in  Spain  and  the  West  Indies ;  but  is  now  studying 
medicine  in  the  hope  of  one  day  or  other  becoming  physician 
to  the  fortress,  a  post  worth  at  least  one  hundred  and  forty 
dollars  a  year.  The  niece  is  the  plump  little  black-eyed 
Dolores  already  mentioned ;  and  who,  it  is  said,  will  one  day 
inherit  all  her  aunt's  possessions,  consisting  of  certain  petty 
tenements  in  the  fortress,  in  a  somewhat  ruinous  condition  it 
is  true,  but  which,  I  am  privately  assured  by  Mateo  Ximenes, 
yield  a  revenue  of  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars ;  so 
that  she  is  quite  an  heiress  in  the  eyes  of  the  ragged  son  of 
the  Alhambra.  I  am  also  informed  by  the  same  observant  and 
authentic  personage,  that  a  quiet  courtship  is  going  on  between 
the  discreet  Manuel  and  his  bright-eyed  cousin,  and  that  noth 
ing  is  wanting  to  enable  them  to  join  their  hands  and  expecta 
tions  but  his  doctor's  diploma,  and  a  dispensation  from  the 
Pope  on  account  of  their  consanguinity. 

The  good  dame  Antonia  fulfils  faithfully  her  contract  in 


44  THE  ALHAMSRA. 

regard  to  my  board  and  lodging;  and  as  I  am  easily  pleased,  1 
find  my  fare  excellent ;  while  the  merry-hearted  little  Dolores 
keeps  my  apartment  in  order,  and  officiates  as  handmaid  at 
meal-times.  I  have  also  at  my  command  a  tall,  stuttering, 
yellow-haired  lad,  named  Pepe,  who  works  in  the  gardens,  and 
would  fain  have  acted  as  valet ;  but,  in  this,  he  was  forestalled 
by  Mateo  Ximenes,  "the  son  of  the  Alhambra."  This  alert 
and  officious  wight  has  managed,  somehow  or  other,  to  stick 
by  me  ever  since  I  first  encountered  him  at  the  outer  gate  of 
the  fortress,  and  to  weave  himself  into  all  my  plans,  until  he 
has  fairly  appointed  and  installed  himself  my  valet,  cicerone, 
guide,  guard,  and  historiographic  squire  ;  and  I  have  been 
obliged  to  improve  the  state  of  his  wardrobe,  that  he  may  not 
disgrace  his  various  functions  ;  so  that  he  has  cast  his  old 
brown  mantle,  as  a  snake  does  his  skin,  and  now  appears  about 
the  fortress  with  a  smart  Andalusian  hat  and  jacket,  to  his 
infinite  satisfaction,  and  the  great  astonishment  of  his  com 
rades.  The  chief  fault  of  honest  Mateo  is  an  over  anxiety  to 
be  useful.  Conscious  of  having  foisted  himself  into  my 
employ,  and  that  my  simple  and  quiet  habits  render  his  situa 
tion  a  sinecure,  he  is  at  his  wit's  ends  to  devise  modes  of 
making  himself  important  to  my  welfare.  I  am,  in  a  manner, 
the  victim  of  his  officiousness ;  I  cannot  put  my  foot  over  the 
threshold  of  the  palace,  to  stroll  about  the  fortress,  but  he  is 
at  my  elbow,  to  explain  everything  I  see ;  and  if  I  venture  to 
ramble  among  the  surrounding  hills,  he  insists  upon  attending 
me  as  a  guard,  though  I  vehementty  suspect  he  would  be 
more  apt  to  trust  to  the  length  of  his  legs  than  the  strength 
of  his  arms,  in  case  of  attack.  After  all,  however,  the  poor 
fellow  is  at  times  an  amusing  companion ;  he  is  simple-minded, 
and  of  infinite  good-humor,  with  the  loquacity  and  gossip  of 
a  village  barber,  and  he  knows  all  the  small-talk  of  the  place 
and  its  environs ;  but  what  he  chiefly  values  himself  on,  is  his 
stock  of  local  information,  having  the  most  marvellous  stories 
to  relate  of  every  tower,  and  vault,  and  gateway  of  the  fortress, 
in  all  of  which  he  places  the  most  implicit  faith. 

Most  of  these  he  has  derived,  according  to  his  own  account, 
from  his  grandfather,  a  little  legendary  tailor,  who  lived  to  the 
age*  of  nearly  a  hundred  years,  during  which  he  made  but  two 
migrations  beyond  the  precincts  of  the  fortress.  His  shop,  for 
the  greater  part  of  a  century,  was  the  resort  of  a  knot  of  ven 
erable  gossips,  where  they  would  pass  half  the  night  talking 
about  old  times,  and  the  wonderful  events  and  hidden  secrets 
of  the  place.  The  whole  living,  moving,  thinking,  and  acting, 


IMPORTANT  NEGOTIATIONS.  45 

of  this  historical  little  tailor,  had  thus  been  bounded  by  the 
walls  of  the  Alhambra ;  within  them  he  had  been  born,  within 
them  he  lived,  breathed,  and  had  his  being;  within  them 
he  died,  and  was  buried.  Fortunately  for  posterity,  his  tra 
ditionary  lore  died  not  with  him.  The  authentic  Mateo,  when 
an  urchin,  used  to  be  an  attentive  listener  to  the  narratives  of 
his  grandfather,  and  of  the  gossip  group  assembled  round  the 
shopboard ;  and  is  thus  possessed  of  a  stock  of  valuable  knowl 
edge  concerning  the  Alhambra,  not  to  be  found  in  books,  and 
well  worthy  the  attention  of  every  curious  traveller. 

Such  are  the  personages  that  constitute  my  regal  house 
hold  ;  and  I  question  whether  any  of  the  potentates,  Moslem 
or  Christian,  who  have  preceded  me  in  the  palace,  have  been 
waited  upon  with  greater  fidelity,  or  enjoyed  a  serener  sway. 

When  I  rise  in  the  morning,  Pepe,  the  stuttering  lad  from 
the  gardens,  brings  me  a  tribute  of  fresh  culled  flowers,  which 
are  afterwards  arranged  in  vases,  by  the  skilful  hand  of 
Dolores,  who  takes  a  female  pride  in  the  decorations  of  my 
chamber.  My  meals  are  made  wherever  caprice  dictates ; 
sometimes  in  one  of  the  Moorish  halls,  sometimes  under  the 
arcades  of  the  Court  of  Lions,  surrounded  by  flowers  and 
fountains  :  and  when  I  walk  out,  I  am  conducted  by  the  assid 
uous  Mateo,  to  the  most  romantic  retreats  of  the  mountains, 
and  delicious  haunts  of  the  adjacent  valleys,  not  one  of  which 
but  is  the  scene  of  some  wonderful  tale. 

Though  fond  of  passing  the  greater  part  of  my  day  alone, 
yet  I  occasionally  repair  in  the  evenings  to  the  little  domestic 
circle  of  Dona  Autouia.  This  is  generally  held  in  an  old 
Moorish  chamber,  which  serves  the  good  dame  for  parlor, 
kitchen  and  hall  of  audience,  and  which  must  have  boasted  of 
some  splendor  in  the  time  of  the  Moors,  if  we  may  judge 
from  the  traces  yet  remaining ;  but  a  rude  fireplace  has  been 
made  in  modern  times  in  one  corner,  the  smoke  from  which 
has  discolored  the  walls,  and  almost  obliterated  the  ancient 
arabesques.  A  window,  with  a  balcony  overhanging  the 
valley  of  the  Darro,  lets  in  the  cool  evening  breeze ;  and  here 
I  take  my  frugal  supper  of  fruit  and  milk,  and  mingle  with 
the  conversation  of  the  family.  There  is  a  natural  talent  or 
mother  wit,  as  it  is  called,  about  the  Spaniards,  which  renders 
them  intellectual  and  agreeable  companions,  whatever  may  be 
their  condition  in  life,  or  however  imperfect  may  have  been 
their  education  :  add  to  this,  they  are  never  vulgar ;  nature 
has  endowed  them  with  an  inherent  dignity  of  spirit.  The 
goodTia  Antonia  is  a  woman  of  strong  and  intelligent,  though 


46  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

uncultivated  mind ;  and  the  bright-eyed  Dolores,  though  she 
has  read  but  three  or  four  books  in  the  whole  course  of  her 
life,  has  an  engaging  mixture  of  naivete  and  good  sense,  and 
often  surprises  me  by  the  pungency  of  her  artless  sallies. 
Sometimes  the  nephew  entertains  us  by  reading  some  old 
comedy  of  Calderon  or  Lope  de  Vega,  to  which  he  is  evidently 
prompted  by  a  desire  to  improve,  as  well  as  amuse  his  cousin 
Dolores ;  though,  to  his  great  mortification,  the  little  damsel 
generally  falls  asleep  before  the  first  act  is  completed.  Some 
times  Tia  Antonia  has  a  little  levee  of  humble  friends  and 
dependents,  the  inhabitants  of  the  adjacent  hamlet,  or  the 
wives  of  the  invalid  soldiers.  These  look  up  to  her  with 
great  deference,  as  the  custodian  of  the  palace,  and  pay  their 
court  to  her  by  bringing  the  news  of  the  place,  or  the  rumors 
that  may  have  straggled  up  from  Granada.  In  listening  to 
these  evening  gossipings  I  have  picked  up  many  curious  facts, 
illustrative  of  the  manners  of  the  people  and  the  peculiarities 
of  the  neighborhood. 

These  are  simple  details  of  simple  pleasures ;  it  is  the 
nature  of  the  place  alone  that  gives  them  interest  and  impor 
tance.  I  tread  haunted  ground,  and  am  surrounded  by  roman 
tic  associations.  From  earliest  boyhood,  when,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Hudson,  I  first  pored  over  the  pages  of  old  Gines  Perez 
de  Hita's  apocryphal  but  chivalresque  history  of  the  civil 
wars  of  Granada,  and  the  feuds  of  its  gallant  cavaliers,  the 
Zegris  and  Abencerrages,  that  city  has  ever  been  a  subject 
of  my  waking  dreams,  and  often  have  I  trod  in  fancy  the 
romantic  halls  of  the  Alhambra.  Behold  for  once  a  daydream 
realized  ;  yet  I  can  scarce  credit  my  senses,  or  believe  that  I 
do  indeed  inhabit  the  palace  of  Boabdil,  and  look  down  from 
its  balconies  upon  chivalric  Granada.  As  I  loiter  through 
these  Oriental  chambers,  and  hear  the  murmur  of  fountains 
and  the  song  of  the  nightingale ;  as  I  inhale  the  odor  of  the 
rose,  and  feel  the  influence  of  the  balmy  climate,  I  am  almost 
tempted  to  fancy  myself  in  the  paradise  of  Mahomet,  and 
that  the  plump  little  Dolores  is  one  of  the  bright-eyed  houris, 
destined  to  administer  to  the  happiness  of  true  believers. 


INHABITANTS   OF   THE  ALHAMBRA.  47 


INHABITANTS  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

I  HAVE  often  observed  that  the  more  proudly  a  mansion  has 
been  tenanted  in  the  day  of  its  prosperity,  the  humbler  are 
its  inhabitants  in  the  day  of  its  decline,  and  that  the  palace 
of  a  king  commonly  ends  in  being  the  nestling-place  of  the 
beggar. 

The  Alhambra  is  in  a  rapid  state  of  similar  transition. 
Whenever  a  tower  falls  to  decay,  it  is  seized  upon  by  some 
tatterdemalion  family,  who  become  joint-tenants,  with  the 
bats  and  owls,  of  its  gilded  halls  ;  and  hang  their  rags,  those 
standards  of  poverty,  out  of  its  windows  and  loopholes. 

I  have  amused  myself  with  remarking  some  of  the  motley 
characters  that  have  thus  usurped  the  ancient  abode  of  royalty, 
and  who  seem  as  if  placed  here  to  give  a  farcical  termination 
to  the  drama  of  human  pride.  One  of  these  even  bears  the 
mockery  of  a  regal  title.  It  is  a  little  old  woman  named 
Maria  Antonia  Sabonea,  but  who  goes  by  the  appellation  of 
la  Reyna  Coquina,  or  the  Cockle-queen.  She  is  small  enough 
to  be  a  fairy,  and  a  fairy  she  may  be  for  aught  I  can  find  out, 
for  no  one  seems  to  know  her  origin.  Her  habitation  is  in  a 
kind  of  closet  under  the  outer  staircase  of  the  palace,  and  she 
sits  in  the  cool  stone  corridor,  plying  her  needle  and  singing 
from  morning  till  night,  with  a  ready  joke  for  every  one  that 
passes ;  for  though  one  of  the  poorest,  she  is  one  of  the  mer 
riest  little  women  breathing.  Her  great  merit  is  a  gift  for 
story-telling,  having,  I  verily  believe,  as  many  stories  at  her 
command,  as  the  inexhaustible  Scheherezade  of  the  thousand 
and  one  nights.  Some  of  these  I  have  heard  her  relate  in  the 
evening  tertulias  of  Dame  Antonia,  at  which  she  is  occasion 
ally  a  humble  attendant. 

That  there  must  be  some  fairy  gift  about  this  mysterious 
little  old  woman,  would  appear  from  her  extraordinary  luck, 
since,  notwithstanding  her  being  very  little,  very  ugly,  and 
very  poor,  she  has  had,  according  to  her  own  account,  five  hus 
bands  and  a  half,  reckoning  as  a  half  one  a  young  dragoon, 
who  died  during  courtship.  A  rival  personage  to  this  little 
fairy  queen  is  a  portly  old  fellow  with  a  bottle-nose,  who  goes 
about  in  a  rusty  garb  with  a  cocked  hat  of  oil-skin  and  a  red 
cockade.  He  is  one  of  the  legitimate  sons  of  the  Alhambra, 
and  has  lived  here  all  his  life,  filling  various  offices,  such  as 
deputy  alguazil,  sexton  of  the  parochial  church,  and  marker  of 


48  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

a  fives-court  established  at  the  foot  of  one  of  the  towers.  He 
is  as  poor  as  a  rat,  but  as  proud  as  he  is  ragged,  boasting  of 
his  descent  from  the  illustrious  house  of  Aguilar,  from  which 
sprang  Gonzalvo  of  Cordova,  the  grand  captain.  Nay,  he  ac 
tually  bears  the  name  of  Alonzo  de  Aguilar,  so  renowned  in  the 
history  of  the  conquest  ;  though  the  graceless  wags  of  the  fort 
ress  have  given  him  the  title  of  el  padre  santo,  or  the  holy 
father,  the  usual  appellation  of  the  Pope,  which  I  had  thought 
too  sacred  in  the  eyes  of  true  Catholics  to  be  thus  ludicrously 
applied.  It  is  a  whimsical  caprice  of  fortune  to  present,  in  the 
grotesque  person  of  this  tatterdemalion,  a  namesake  and  de 
scendant  of  the  proud  Alonzo  de  Aguilar,  the  mirror  of  An- 
dalusian  chivalry,  leading  an  almost  mendicant  existence 
about  this  once  haughty  fortress,  which  his  ancestor  aided  to 
reduce  ;  yet,  such  might  have  been  the  lot  of  the  descendants 
of  Agamemnon  and  Achilles,  had  they  lingered  about  the  ruins 
of  Troy. 

Of  this  motley  community,  I  find  the  family  of  my  gossip 
ing  squire,  Mateo  Ximenes,  to  form,  from  their  numbers  at 
least,  a  very  important  part.  His  boast  of  being  a  son  of  the 
Alhambra,  is  not  unfounded.  His  family  has  inhabited  the 
fortress  ever  since  the  time  of  the  conquest,  handing  down  an 
hereditary  poverty  from  father  to  son ;  not  one  of  them  having 
ever  been  known  to  be  worth  a  maravedi.  His  father,  by  trade 
a  ribbon-weaver,  and  who  succeeded  the  historical  tailor  as 
the  head  of  the  family,  is  now  near  seventy  years  of  age,  and 
lives  in  a  hovel  of  reeds  and  plaster,  built  by  his  own  hands, 
just  above  the  iron  gate.  The  furniture  consists  of  a  crazy 
bed,  a  table,  and  two  or  three  chairs  ;  a  wooden  chest,  contain 
ing,  besides  his  scanty  clothing,  the  "  archives  of  the  family." 
These  are  nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  papers  of  various 
lawsuits  sustained  by  different  generations ;  by  which  it  would 
seem  that,  with  all  their  apparent  carelessness  and  good-humor, 
they  are  a  litigious  brood.  Most  of  the  suits  have  been 
brought  against  gossiping  neighbors  for  questioning  the  purity 
of  their  blood,  and  denying  their  being  Christianas  viejos,  i.e. 
old  Christians,  without  Jewish  or  Moorish  taint.  In  fact,  I 
doubt  whether  this  jealousy  about  their  blood  has  not  kept 
them  so  poor  in  purse  :  spending  all  their  earnings  on  escri- 
banos  and  alguazils.  The  pride  of  the  hovel  is  an  escutcheon 
suspended  against  the  wall,  in  which  are  emblazoned  quarter- 
ings  of  the  arms  of  the  Marquis  of  Caiesedo,  and  of  various 
other  noble  houses,  with  which  this  poverty-stricken  brood 
claim  affinity. 


INHABITANTS   OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.  49 

As  to  Mateo  himself,  who  is  now  about  thirty-five  years  of 
age,  he  has  done  his  utmost  to  perpetuate  his  line  and  con 
tinue  the  poverty  of  the  family,  having  a  wife  and  a  numerous 
progeny,  who  inhabit  an  almost  dismantled  hovel  in  the  hamlet. 
How  they  manage  to  subsist,  he  only  who  sees  into  all  mys 
teries  can  tell;  the  subsistence  of  a  Spanish  family  of  the  kind, 
is  always  a  riddle  to  me ;  yet  they  do  subsist,  and  what  is 
more,  appear  to  enjoy  their  existence.  The  wife  takes  her 
holiday  stroll  on  the  Paseo  of  Granada,  with  a  child  in  her 
arms  and  half  a  dozen  at  her  heels ;  and  the  eldest  daughter, 
now  verging  into  womanhood,  dresses  her  hair  with  flowers, 
and  dances  gayly  to  the  castanets. 

There  are  two  classes  of  people  to  whom  life  seems  one  long 
holiday,  the  very  rich,  and  the  very  poor;  one  because  they 
need  do  nothing,  the  other  because  they  have  nothing  to  do  ; 
but  there  are  none  who  understand  the  art  of  doing  nothing 
and  living  upon  nothing,  better  than  the  poor  classes  of  Spain. 
Climate  does  one  half,  and  temperament  the  rest.  Give  a 
Spaniard  the  shade  in  summer,  and  the  sun  in  winter ;  a  little 
bread,  garlic,  oil,  and  garbances,  an  old  brown  cloak  and  a 
guitar,  and  let  the  world  roll  on  as  it  pleases.  Talk  of  pov 
erty  !  with  him  it  has  no  disgrace.  It  sits  upon  him  with  a 
grandiose  style,  like  his  ragged  cloak.  He  is  a  hidalgo,  even 
when  in  rags. 

The  "sons  of  the  Alhambra"  are  an  eminent  illustration  of 
this  practical  philosophy.  As  the  Moors  imagined  that  the 
celestial  paradise  hung  over  this  favored  spot,  so  I  am  inclined 
at  times  to  fancy,  that  a  gleam  of  the  golden  age  still  lingers 
about  this  ragged  community.  They  possess  nothing,  they  do 
nothing,  they  care  for  nothing.  Yet,  though  apparently  idle 
all  the  week,  they  are  as  observant  of  all  holy  days  and  saints' 
days  as  the  most  laborious  artisan.  They  attend  all  fetes  and 
dancings  in  Granada  and  its  vicinity,  light  bonfires  on  the  hills 
on  St.  John's  eve,  and  dance  away  the  moonlight  nights  on 
the  harvest-home  of  a  small  field  within  the  precincts  of  the 
fortress,  which  yield  a  few  bushels  of  wheat. 

Before  concluding  these  remarks,  I  must  mention  one  of  the 
amusements  of  the  place  which  has  particularly  struck  rne.  I 
had  repeatedly  observed  a  long  lean  fellow  perched  on  the  top 
of  one  of  the  towers,  manoeuvring  two  or  three  fishing-rods, 
as  though  he  were  angling  for  the  stars.  I  was  for  some  time 
perplexed  by  the  evolutions  of  this  aerial  fisherman,  and  my 
perplexity  increased  on  observing  others  employed  in  like 
manner  on  different  parts  of  the  battlements  and  bastions ;  it 


50  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

was  not  until  I  consulted  Mateo  Ximenes  that  I  solved  the 
mystery. 

It  seems  that  the  pure  and  airy  situation  of  this  fortress 
has  rendered  it,  like  the  castle  of  Macbeth,  a  prolific  breeding- 
place  for  swallows  and  martlets,  who  sport  about  its  towers  in 
myriads,  with  the  holiday  glee  of  urchins  just  let  loose  from 
school.  To  entrap  these  birds  in  their  giddy  circlings,  with 
hooks  baited  with  flies,  is  one  of  the  favorite  amusements  of 
the  ragged  "  sons  of  the  Alhambra,"  who,  with  the  good-for- 
nothing  ingenuity  of  arrant  idlers,  have  thus  invented  the  art 
of  angling  in  the  sky. 


THE   HALL   OF  AMBASSADORS. 

IN  one  of  my  visits  to  the  old  Moorish  chamber,  where  the 
good  Tia  Antonia  cooks  her  dinner  and  receives  her  company, 
I  observed  a  mysterious  door  in  one  corner,  leading  apparently 
into  the  ancient  part  of  the  edifice.  My  curiosity  being 
aroused,  I  opened  it,  and  found  myself  in  a  narrow,  blind 
corridor,  groping  along  which  I  came  to  the  head  of  a  dark 
winding  staircase,  leading  down  an  angle  of  the  tower  of  Co- 
mares.  Down  this  staircase  I  descended  darkling,  guiding 
myself  by  the  wall  until  I  came  to  a  small  door  at  the  bottom, 
throwing  which  open,  I  was  suddenly  dazzled  by  emerging 
into  the  brilliant  antechamber  of  the  Hall  of  Ambassadors ; 
with  the  fountain  of  the  court  of  the  Alberca  sparkling  before 
me.  The  antechamber  is  separated  from  the  court  by  an  ele 
gant  gallery,  supported  by  slender  columns  with  spandrels  of 
open  work  in  the  Morisco  style.  At  each  end  of  the  antecham 
ber  are  alcoves,  and  its  ceiling  is  richly  stuccoed  and  painted. 
Passing  through  a  magnificent  portal,  I  found  myself  in  the 
far-famed  Hall  of  Ambassadors,  the  audience  chamber  of  the 
Moslem  monarchs.  It  is  said  to  be  thirty-seven  feet  square, 
and  sixty  feet  high  ;  occupies  the  whole  interior  of  the  Tower 
of  Comares ;  and  still  bears  the  traces  of  past  magnificence. 
The  walls  are  beautifully  stuccoed  and  decorated  with  Morisco 
fancifulness ;  the  lofty  ceiling  was  originally  of  the  same  favor 
ite  material,  with  the  usual  frostwork  and  pensile  ornaments 
or  stalactites ;  which,  with  the  embellishments  of  vivid  color 
ing  and  gilding,  must  have  been  gorgeous  in  the  extreme. 
Unfortunately  it  gave  way  during  an  earthquake,  and  brought 
down  with  it  an  immense  arch  which  traversed  the  hall.  It 


ENTRANCE  TO    THE    HALL    OF    AMBASSADORS 


THE  HALL   OF  AMBASSADORS.  51 

was  replaced  by  the  present  vault  or  dome  of  larch  or  cedar, 
with  intersecting  ribs,  the  whole  curiously  wrought  and  richly 
colored;  still  Oriental  in  its  character,  reminding  one  of 
"  those  ceilings  of  cedar  and  vermilion  that  we  read  of  in  the 
prophets  and  the  Arabian  Nights."1 

From  the  great  height  of  the  vault  above  the  windows  the 
upper  part  of  the  hall  is  almost  lost  in  obscurity ;  yet  there 
is  a  magnificence  as  well  as  solemnity  in  the  gloom,  as  through 
it  we  have  gleams  of  rich  gilding  and  the  brilliant  tints  01 
the  Moorish  pencil. 

The  royal  throne  was  placed  opposite  the  entrance  in  a 
recess,  which  still  bears  an  inscription  intimating  that  Yusef  I. 
(the  monarch  who  completed  the  Alhambra)  made  this  the 
throne  of  his  empire.  Everything  in  this  noble  hall  seems 
to  have  been  calculated  to  surround  the  throne  with  impressive 
dignity  and  splendor ;  there  was  none  of  the  elegant  voluptu 
ousness  which  reigns  in  other  parts  of  the  palace.  The  tower 
is  of  massive  strength,  domineering  over  the  whole  edifice  and 
overhanging  the  steep  hillside.  On  three  sides  of  the  Hall  of 
Ambassadors  are  windows  cut  through  the  immense  thickness 
of  the  walls,  and  commanding  extensive  prospects.  The  bal 
cony  of  the  central  window  especially  looks  down  upon  the 
verdant  valley  of  the  Darro,  with  its  walks,  its  groves,  and 
gardens.  To  the  left  it  enjoys  a  distant  prospect  of  the  Vega, 
while  directly  in  front  rises  the  rival  height  of  the  Albaycin, 
with  its  medley  of  streets,  and  terraces,  and  gardens,  and  once 
crowned  by  a  fortress  that  vied  in  power  with  the  Alhambra. 
"  Ill-fated  the  man  who  lost  all  this  !  "  exclaimed  Charles  V., 
as  he  looked  forth  from  this  window  upon  the  enchanting 
scenery  it  commands. 

The  balcony  of  the  window  where  this  royal  exclamation 
was  made,  has  of  late  become  one  of  my  favorite  resorts.  I 
have  just  been  seated  there,  enjoying  the  close  of  a  long  bril 
liant  day.  The  sun,  as  he  sank  behind  the  purple  mountains 
of  Alhama,  sent  a  stream  of  effulgence  up  the  valley  of  the 
Darro,  that  spread  a  melancholy  pomp  over  the  ruddy  towers 
of  the  Alhambra ;  while  the  Vega,  covered  with  a  slight  sultry 
vapor  that  caught  the  setting  ray,  seemed  spread  out  in  the 
distance  like  a  golden  sea.  Not  a  breath  of  air  disturbed  the 
stillness  of  the  hour,  and  though  the  faint  sound  of  music  and 
merriment  now  and  then  rose  from  the  gardens  of  the  Darro, 
it  but  rendered  more  impressive  the  monumental  silence  of 

1  Urquhart's  Pillars  of  Hercules. 


52  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

the  pile  which  overshadowed  me.  It  was  one  of  those  hours 
and  scenes  in  which  memory  asserts  an  almost  magical  power ; 
and,  like  the  evening  sun  beaming  on  these  mouldering  towers, 
sends  back  her  retrospective  rays  to  light  up  the  glories  of 
the  past. 

As  I  sat  watching  the  effect  of  the  declining  daylight  upon 
this  Moorish  pile,  I  was  led  into  a  consideration  of  the  light, 
elegant,  and  voluptuous  character,  prevalent  throughout  its 
internal  architecture ;  and  to  contrast  it  with  the  grand  but 
gloomy  solemnity  of  the  Gothic  edifices  reared  by  the  Spanish 
conquerors.  The  very  architecture  thus  bespeaks  the  opposite 
and  irreconcilable  natures  of  the  two  warlike  people  who  so 
long  battled  here  for  the  mastery  of  the  peninsula.  By  de 
grees,  I  fell  into  a  course  of  musing  upon  the  singular  fortunes 
of  the  Arabian  or  Morisco-Spaniards,  whose  whole  existence 
is  as  a  tale  that  is  told,  and  certainly  forms  one  of  the  most 
anomalous  yet  splendid  episodes  in  history.  Potent  and  dur 
able  as  was  their  dominion,  we  scarcely  know  how  to  call 
them.  They  were  a  nation  without  a  legitimate  country  or 
name.  A  remote  wave  of  the  great  Arabian  inundation,  cast 
upon  the  shores  of  Europe,  they  seem  to  have  all  the  impetus 
of  the  first  rush  of  the  torrent.  Their  career  of  conquest, 
from  the  rock  of  Gibraltar  to  the  cliffs  of  the  Pyrenees,  was 
as  rapid  and  brilliant  as  the  Moslem  victories  of  Syria  and 
Egypt.  Nay,  had  they  not  been  checked  on  the  plains  of 
Tours,  all  France,  all  Europe,  might  have  been  overrun  with 
the  same  facility  as  the  empires  of  the  East,  and  the  crescent 
at  this  day  have  glittered  on  the  fanes  of  Paris  and  London. 

Repelled  within  the  limits  of  the  Pyrenees,  the  mixed 
hordes  of  Asia  and  Africa,  that  formed  this  great  irruption, 
gave  up  the  Moslem  principle  of  conquest,  and  sought  to 
establish  in  Spain  a  peaceful  and  permanent  dominion.  As 
conquerors,  their  heroism  was  only  equalled  by  their  modera 
tion;  and  in  both,  for  a  time,  they  excelled  the  nations  with 
whom  they  contended.  Severed  from  their  native  homes,  they 
loved  the  land  given  them  as  they  supposed  by  Allah,  and 
strove  to  embellish  it  with  everything  that  could  administer 
to  the  happiness  of  man.  Laying  the  foundations  of  their 
power  in  a  system  of  wise  and  equitable  laws,  diligently  culti 
vating  the  arts  and  sciences,  and  promoting  agriculture,  man 
ufactures,  and  commerce,  they  gradually  formed  an  empire 
unrivalled  for  its  prosperity  by  any  of  the  empires  of  Chris 
tendom  ;  and  diligently  drawing  round  them  the  graces  and 
refinements  which  marked  the  Arabian  empire  in  the  East,  at 


THE  HALL   OF  AMBASSADORS.  53 

the  time  of  its  greatest  civilization,  they  diffused  the  light  of 
Oriental  knowedge  through  the  Western  regions  of  benighted 
Europe. 

The  cities  of  Arabian  Spain  became  the  resort  of  Christian 
artisans,  to  instruct  themselves  in  the  useful  arts.  The  uni 
versities  of  Toledo,  Cordova,  Seville,  and  Granada,  were 
sought  by  the  pale  student  from  other  lands  to  acquaint  him 
self  with  the  sciences  of  the  Arabs,  and  the  treasured  lore  of 
antiquity ;  the  lovers  of  the  gay  science,  resorted  to  Cordova 
and  Granada,  to  imbibe  the  poetry  and  music  of  the  East ; 
and  the  steel-clad  warriors  of  the  North  hastened  thither  to 
accomplish  themselves  in  the  graceful  exercises  and  courteous 
usages  of  chivalry. 

If  the  Moslem  monuments  in  Spain,  if  the  Mosque  of  Cor 
dova,  the  Alcazar  of  Seville,  and  the  Alhambra  of  Granada, 
still  bear  inscriptions  fondly  boasting  of  the  power  and  per 
manency  of  their  dominion  ;  can  the  boast  be  derided  as  arro 
gant  and  vain  ?  Generation  after  generation,  century  after 
century,  passed  away,  and  still  they  maintained  possession  of 
the  land.  A  period  elapsed  longer  than  that  which  has  passed 
since  England  was  subjugated  by  the  Norman  Conqueror,  and 
the  descendants  of  Musa  and  Taric  might  as  little  anticipate 
being  driven  into  exile  across  the  same  straits,  traversed  by 
their  triumphant  ancestors,  as  the  descendants  of  Hollo  and 
William,  and  their  veteran  peers,  may  dream  of  being  driven 
back  to  the  shores  of  Normandy. 

With  all  this,  however,  the  Moslem  empire  in  Spain  was 
but  a  brilliant  exotic,  that  took  no  permanent  root  in  the  soil 
it  embellished.  Severed  from  all  their  neighbors  in  the  West, 
by  impassable  barriers  of  faith  and  manners,  and  separated 
by  seas  and  deserts  from  their  kindred  of  the  East,  the  Mo- 
risco-Spaniards  were  an  isolated  people.  Their  whole  exist- 
tence  was  a  prolonged,  though  gallant  and  chivalric  struggle, 
for  a  foothold  in  a  usurped  land. 

They  were  the  outposts  and  frontiers  of  Islamism.  The 
peninsula  was  the  great  battle-ground  where  the  Gothic  con 
querors  of  the  North  and  the  Moslem  conquerors  of  the  East, 
met  and  strove  for  mastery ;  and  the  fiery  courage  of  the  Arab 
was  at  length  subdued  by  the  obstinate  and  persevering  valor 
of  the  Goth. 

Never  was  the  annihilation  of  a  people  more  complete  than 
that  of  the  Morisco-Spaniards.  Where  are  they  ?  Ask  the 
shores  of  Barbary  and  its  desert  places.  The  exiled  remnant 
of  their  once  powerful  empire  disappeared  among  the  barba- 


54  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

rians  of  Africa,  and  ceased  to  be  a  nation.  They  have  not 
ever  left  a  distinct  name  behind  them,  though  for  nearly  eight 
centuries  they  were  a  distinct  people.  The  home  of  their 
adoption,  and  of  their  occupation  for  ages,  refuses  to  acknowl 
edge  them,  except  as  invaders  and  usurpers.  A  few  broken 
monuments  are  all  that  remain  to  bear  witness  to  their  power 
and  dominion,  as  solitary  rocks,  left  far  in  the  interior,  bear 
testimony  to  the  extent  of  some  vast  inundation.  Such  is 
the  Alhambra.  A  Moslem  pile  in  the  midst  of  a  Christian 
land;  an  Oriental  palace  amidst  the  Gothic  edifices  of  the 
West ;  an  elegant  memento  of  a  brave,  intelligent,  and  grace 
ful  people,  who  conquered,  ruled,  flourished  and  passed  away. 


THE  JESUITS'   LIBRARY. 

SINCE  indulging  in  the  foregoing  revery,  my  curiosity  has 
been  aroused  to  know  something  of  the  princes  who  left  be 
hind  them  this  monument  of  Oriental  taste  and  magnificence ; 
and  whose  names  still  appear  among  the  inscriptions  on  its 
walls.  To  gratify  this  curiosity,  I  have  descended  from  this 
region  of  fancy  and  fable,  where  everything  is  liable  to  take 
an  imaginary  tint,  and  have  carried  my  researches  among  the 
dusty  tomes  of  the  old  Jesuits'  Library,  in  the  University. 
This  once  boasted  repository  of  erudition  is  now  a  mere 
shadow  of  its  former  self,  having  been  stripped  of  its  manu 
scripts  and  rarest  works  by  the  French,  when  masters  of 
Granada;  still  it  contains  among  many  ponderous  tomes  of 
the  Jesuit  fathers,  which  the  French  were  careful  to  leave  be 
hind,  several  curious  tracts  of  Spanish  literature  ;  and  above 
all  a  number  of  those  antiquated  parchment-bound  chronicles 
for  which  I  have  a  particular  veneration. 

In  this  old  library,  I  have  passed  many  delightful  hours  of 
quiet,  undisturbed,  literary  foraging  ;  for  the  keys  of  the  doors 
and  bookcases  were  kindly  intrusted  to  me,  and  I  was  left 
alone,  to  rummage  at  my  pleasure  —  a  rare  indulgence  in 
these  sanctuaries  of  learning,  which  too  often  tantalize  the 
thirsty  student  with  the  sight  of  sealed  fountains  of  knowl 
edge. 

In  the  course  of  these  visits  I  gleaned  a  variety  of  facts  con 
cerning  historical  characters  connected  with  the  Alhambra, 
some  of  which  I  here  subjoin,  trusting  they  may  prove  accept 
able  to  the  reader. 


ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.   55 


ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

THE  Moors  of  Granada  regarded  the  Alhambra  as  a  miracle 
of  art,  and  had  a  tradition  that  the  king  who  founded  it  dealt 
in  magic,  or  at  least  in  alchemy,  by  means  whereof  he  pro 
cured  the  immense  sums  of  gold  expended  in  its  erection.  A 
brief  view  of  his  reign  will  show  the  secret  of  his  wealth. 
He  is  known  in  Arabian  history  as  Muhamed  Ibn-1-Ahmar ; 
but  his  name  in  general  is  written  simply  Alhamar,  and  was 
given  to  him,  we  are  told,  on  account  of  his  ruddy  complexion.1 

He  was  of  the  noble  and  opulent  line  of  the  Beni  Nasar,  or 
tribe  of  Nasar,  and  was  born  in  Arjona,  in  the  year  of  the 
Hegira  592  (A.D.  1195).  At  his  birth  the  astrologers,  we  are 
told,  cast  his  horoscope  according  to  Oriental  custom,  and  pro 
nounced  it  highly  auspicious  ;  and  a  santon  predicted  for  him  a 
glorious  career.  No  expense  was  spared  in  fitting  him  for  the 
high  destinies  prognosticated.  Before  he  attained  the  full  years 
of  manhood,  the  famous  battle  of  the  Navas  (or  plains)  of  To- 
losa  shattered  the  Moorish  empire,  and  eventually  severed  the 
Moslems  of  Spain  from  the  Moslems  of  Africa.  Factions  soon 
arose  among  the  former,  headed  by  warlike  chiefs,  ambitious 
of  grasping  the  sovereignty  of  the  Peninsula.  Alhamar  be 
came  engaged  in  these  wars ;  he  was  the  general  and  leader  of 
the  Beni  Nasar,  and,  as  such,  he  opposed  and  thwarted  the 
ambition  of  Aben  Hud,  who  had  raised  his  standard  among 
the  warlike  mountains  of  the  Alpuxaras,  and  been  proclaimed 
king  of  Murcia  and  Granada.  Many  conflicts  took  place  be 
tween  these  warring  chieftains;  Alhamar  dispossessed  his 
rival  of  several  important  places,  and  was  proclaimed  king  of 
Jaen  by  his  soldiery ;  but  be  aspired  to  the  sovereignty  of  the 
whole  of  Andalusia,  for  he  was  of  a  sanguine  spirit  and  lofty 
ambition.  His  valor  and  generosity  went  hand  in  hand ; 
what  he  gained  by  the  one  he  secured  by  the  other ;  and  at 
the  death  of  Aben  Hud  (A.D.  1238),  he  became  sovereign  of 
all  the  territories  which  owned  allegiance  to  that  powerful 
chief.  He  made  his  formal  entry  into  Granada  in  the  same 
year,  amid  the  enthusiastic  shouts  of  the  multitude,  who  hailed 
him  as  the  only  one  capable  of  uniting  the  various  factions 

1  Et  porque  eramuy  rubio  llamaban  lo  los  Moros  Abenalhamar,  que  quiere  decir 
bermejo  .  .  .  et  porque  los  Moros  lo  llamaban  Benalhamarque  quiere  deeir  ber- 
mejo  tomo  los  senates  bermejos,  segun  que  los  ovieron  despues  los  Reyes  de  Uranada. 
—BLED A,  Cronicade  Alfonso  XI.,  P.  i.  C.  44. 


56  THE  ALHAMBEA. 

which  prevailed,  and  which  threatened  to  lay  the   empire  at 
the  mercy  of  the  Christian  princes. 

Alhamar  established  his  court  in  Granada ;  he  was  the  first 
of  the  illustrious  line  of  Nasar  that  sat  upon  a  throne.  He 
took  immediate  measures  to  put  his  little  kingdom  in  a  pos 
ture  of  defence  against  the  assaults  to  be  expected  from  his 
Christian  neighbors,  repairing  and  strengthening  the  frontier 
posts  and  fortifying  the  capital.  Not  content  with  the  pro 
visions  of  the  Moslem  law,  by  which  every  man  is  made  a 
soldier,  he  raised  a  regular  army  to  garrison  his  strongholds, 
allowing  every  soldier  stationed  on  the  frontier  a  portion  of 
land  for  the  support  of  himself,  his  horse,  and  his  family ; 
thus  interesting  him  in  the  defence  of  the  soil  in  which  he 
had  a  property.  These  wise  precautions  were  justified  by 
events.  The  Christians,  profiting  by  the  dismemberment  of 
the  Moslem  power,  were  rapidly  regaining  their  ancient  terri 
tories.  James  the  Conqueror  had  subjected  all  Valencia,  and 
Ferdinand  the  Saint  sat  down  in  person  before  Jaen,  the  bul 
wark  of  Granada.  Alhamar  ventured  to  oppose  him  in  open 
field,  but  met  with  a  signal  defeat,  and  retired  discomfited 
to  his  capital.  Jaen  still  held  out,  and  kept  the  enemy  at 
bay  during  an  entire  winter,  but  Ferdinand  swore  not  to  raise 
his  camp  until  he  had  gained  possession  of  the  place.  Al 
hamar  found  it  impossible  to  throw  re-enforcements  into  the 
besieged  city ;  he  saw  that  its  fall  must  be  followed  by  the 
investment  of  his  capital,  and  was  conscious  of  the  insuffi 
ciency  of  his  means  to  cope  with  the  potent  sovereign  of 
Castile.  Taking  a  sudden  resolution,  therefore,  he  repaired 
privately  to  the  Christian  camp,  made  his  unexpected  appear 
ance  in  the  presence  of  King  Ferdinand,  and  frankly  announced 
himself  as  the  king  of  Granada.  "  I  come,"  said  he,  "  confid 
ing  in  your  good  faith,  to  put  myself  under  your  protection. 
Take  all  I  possess  and  receive  me  as  your  vassal ;  "  so  saying, 
he  knelt  and  kissed  the  king's  hand  in  token  of  allegiance. 

Ferdinand  was  won  by  this  instance  of  confiding  faith,  and 
determined  not  to  be  outdone  in  generosity.  He  raised  his 
late  enemy  from  the  earth,  embraced  him  as  a  friend,  and,  re 
fusing  the  wealth  he  offered,  left  him  sovereign  of  his  domin 
ions,  under  the  feudal  tenure  of  a  yearly  tribute,  attendance 
at  the  Cortes  as  one  of  the  nobles  of  the  empire,  and  service 
in  war  with  a  certain  number  of  horsemen.  He  moreover 
conferred  on  him  the  honor  of  knighthood,  and  armed  him 
with  his  own  hands. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  that  Alhamar  was  called  upon, 


ALHAMAR,   THE  FOUNDER   OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.      57 

for  his  military  services,  to  aid  King  Ferdinand  in  his  famous 
siege  of  Seville.  The  Moorish  king  sallied  forth  with  five 
hundred  chosen  horsemen  of  Granada,  than  whom  none  in  the 
world  knew  better  how  to  manage  the  steed  or  wield  the  lance. 
It  was  a  humiliating  service,  however,  for  they  had  to  draw 
the  sword  against  their  brethren  of  the  faith. 

Alhamar  gained  a  melancholy  distinction  by  his  prowess  in 
this  renowned  conquest,  but  more  true  honor  by  the  humanity 
which  he  prevailed  upon  Ferdinand  to  introduce  into  the  usages 
of  war.  When  in  1248  the  famous  city  of  Seville  surrendered 
to  the  Castilian  monarch,  Alhamar  returned  sad  and  full  of 
care  to  his  dominions.  He  saw  the  gathering  ills  that  men 
aced  the  Moslem  cause ;  and  uttered  an  ejaculation  often  used 
by  him  in  moments  of  anxiety  and  trouble  —  "  How  straitened 
and  wretched  would  be  our  life,  if  our  hope  were  not  so  spacious 
and  extensive."  "  Que  angoste  y  miserabile  seria  nuestra  vida, 
sino  fuera  tan  dilatada  y  espaciosa  nuestra  esperanza ! " 

As  he  approached  Granada  on  his  return  he  beheld  arches 
of  triumph  which  had  been  erected  in  honor  of  his  martial 
exploits.  The  people  thronged  forth  to  see  him  with  impa 
tient  joy,  for  his  benignant  rule  had  won  all  hearts.  Wherever 
he  passed  he  was  hailed  with  acclamations  as  "  El  Ghalib ! " 
(the  conqueror).  Alhamar  gave  a  melancholy  shake  of  the 
head  on  hearing  the  appellation.  "  Wa  le  ghalib  He  Aldh  !  " 
(there  is  no  conqueror  but  God)  exclaimed  he.  From  that 
time  forward  this  exclamation  became  his  motto,  and  the  motto 
of  his  descendants,  and  appears  to  this  day  emblazoned  on 
his  escutcheons  in  the  halls  of  the  Alhambra. 

Alhamar  had  purchased  peace  by  submission  to  the  Christian 
yoke;  but  he  was  conscious  that,  with  elements  so  discordant 
and  motives  for  hostility  so  deep  and  ancient,  it  could  not  be 
permanent.  Acting,  therefore,  upon  the  old  maxim,  "Arm 
thyself  in  peace  and  clothe  thyself  in  summer,"  he  improved 
the  present  interval  of  tranquillity  by  fortifying  his  domin 
ions,  replenishing  his  arsenals,  and  promoting  those  useful 
arts  which  give  wealth  and  real  power.  He  confided  the  com 
mand  of  his  various  cities  to  such  as  had  distinguished  them 
selves  by  valor  and  prudence,  and  who  seemed  most  acceptable 
to  the  people.  He  organized  a  vigilant  police,  and  established 
rigid  rules  for  the  administration  of  justice.  The  poor  and 
the  distressed  always  found  ready  admission  to  his  presence, 
and  he  attended  personally  to  their  assistance  and  redress. 
He  erected  hospitals  for  the  blind,  the  aged,  and  infirm,  and 
all  those  incapable  of  labor,  and  visited  them  frequently ;  not 


58  THE  ALHAMBBA. 

on  set  days  with  pomp  and  form,  so  as  to  give  time  for  every 
thing  to  be  put  in  order,  and  every  abuse  concealed;  but 
suddenly,  and  unexpectedly,  informing  himself,  by  actual 
observation  and  close  inquiry,  of  the  treatment  of  the  sick, 
and  the  conduct  of  those  appointed  to  administer  to  their 
relief.  He  founded  schools  and  colleges,  which  he  visited  in 
the  same  manner,  inspecting  personally  the  instruction  of  the 
youth.  He  established  butcheries  and  public  ovens,  that  the 
people  might  be  furnished  with  wholesome  provisions  at  just 
and  regular  prices.  He  introduced  abundant  streams  of  water 
into  the  city,  erecting  baths  and  fountains,  and  constructing 
aqueducts  and  canals  to  irrigate  and  fertilize  the  Vega.  By 
these  means  prosperity  and  abundance  prevailed  in  this  beau 
tiful  city,  its  gates  were  thronged  with  commerce,  and  its 
warehouses  filled  with  luxuries  and  merchandise  of  every 
clime  and  country. 

He  moreover  gave  premiums  and  privileges  to  the  best  arti 
sans  ;  improved  the  breed  of  horses  and  other  domestic 
animals ;  encouraged  husbandry ;  and  increased  the  natural 
fertility  of  the  soil  twofold  by  his  protection,  making  the 
lovely  valleys  of  his  kingdom  to  bloom  like  gardens.  He  fos 
tered  also  the  growth  and  fabrication  of  silk,  until  the  looms 
of  Granada  surpassed  even  those  of  Syria  in  the  fineness  and 
beauty  of  their  productions.  He  moreover  caused  the  mines 
of  gold  and  silver  and  other  metals,  found  in  the  mountainous 
regions  of  his  dominions,  to  be  diligently  worked,  and  was  the 
first  king  of  Granada  who  struck  money  of  gold  and  silver 
with  his  name,  taking  great  care  that  the  coins  should  be 
skilfully  executed. 

It  was  towards  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century,  and 
just  after  his  return  from  the  siege  of  Seville,  that  he  com 
menced  the  splendid  palace  of  the  Alhambra ;  superintending 
the  building  of  it  in  person ;  mingling  frequently  among  the 
artists  and  workmen,  and  directing  their  labors. 

Though  thus  magnificent  in  his  works  and  great  in  his 
enterprises,  he  was  simple  in  his  person  and  moderate  in  his 
enjoyments.  His  dress  was  not  merely  void  of  splendor,  but 
so  plain  as  not  to  distinguish  him  from  his  subjects.  His 
harem  boasted  but  few  beauties,  and  these  he  visited  but 
seldom,  though  they  were  entertained  with  great  magnifi 
cence.  His  wives  were  daughters  of  the  principal  nobles,  and 
were  treated  by  him  as  friends  and  rational  companions. 
What  is  more,  he  managed  to  make  them  live  in  friendship 
with  one  another.  He  passed  much  of  his  time  in  his  gar- 


ALHAMAE,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.   59 

dens ;  especially  in  those  of  the  Alhambra,  which  he  had 
stored  with  the  rarest  plants  and  the  most  beautiful  and  aro 
matic  flowers.  Here  he  delighted  himself  in  reading  histories, 
or  in  causing  them  to  be  read  and  related  to  him,  and  some 
times,  iu  intervals  of  leisure,  employed  himself  in  the  instruc 
tion  of  his  three  sons,  for  whom  he  had  provided  the  most 
learned  and  virtuous  masters. 

As  he  had  frankly  and  voluntarily  offered  himself  a  tribu 
tary  vassal  to  Ferdinand,  so  he  always  remained  loyal  to  his 
word,  giving  him  repeated  proofs  of  fidelity  and  attachment. 
When  that  renowned  monarch  died  in  Seville  in  1254,  Alhamar 
sent  ambassadors  to  condole  with  his  successor,  Alonzo  X., 
and  with  them  a  gallant  train  of  a  hundred  Moorish  cavaliers 
of  distinguished  rank,  who  were  to  attend  round  the  royal 
bier  during  the  funeral  ceremonies,  each  bearing  a  lighted 
taper.  This  grand  testimonial  of  respect  was  repeated  by  the 
Moslem  monarch  during  the  remainder  of  his  life  on  each 
anniversary  of  the  death  of  King  Ferdinand  el  Santo,  when 
the  hundred  Moorish  knights  repaired  from  Granada  to 
Seville,  and  took  their  stations  with  lighted  tapers  in  the 
centre  of  the  sumptuous  cathedral  round  the  cenotaph  of 
the  illustrious  deceased. 

Alhamar  retained  his  faculties  and  vigor  to  an  advanced 
age.  In  his  seventy-ninth  year  (A.D.  1272)  he  took  the  field 
on  horseback,  accompanied  by  the  flower  of  his  chivalry,  to 
resist  an  invasion  of  his  territories.  As  the  army  sallied  forth 
from  Granada,  one  of  the  principal  adalides,  or  guides,  who 
rode  in  the  advance,  accidentally  broke  his  lance  against  the 
arch  of  the  gate.  The  councillors  of  the  king,  alarmed  by 
this  circumstance,  which  was  considered  an  evil  omen, 
entreated  him  to  return.  Their  supplications  were  in  vain. 
The  king  persisted,  and  at  noontide  the  omen,  say  the  Moor 
ish  chroniclers,  was  fatally  fulfilled.  Alhamar  was  suddenly 
struck  with  illness,  and  had  nearly  fallen  from  his  horse. 
He  was  placed  on  a  litter,  and  borne  back  towards  Granada, 
but  his  illness  increased  to  such  a  degree  that  they  were 
obliged  to  pitch  his  tent  in  the  Vega.  His  physicians  were 
filled  with  consternation,  not  knowing  what  remedy  to  pre 
scribe.  In  a  few  hours  he  died,  vomiting  blood  and  in  violent 
convulsions.  The  Castilian  prince,  Don  Philip,  brother  of 
Alonzo  X.,  was  by  his  side  when  he  expired.  His  body  was 
embalmed,  enclosed  in  a  silver  coffin,  and  buried  in  the 
Alhambra  in  a  sepulchre  of  precious  marble,  amidst  the 
unfeigned  lamentations  of  his  subjects,  who  bewailed  him  as  a 
parent. 


60  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

I  have  said  that  he  was  the  first  of  the  illustrious  line  of 
Xasar  that  sat  upon  a  throne.  I  may  add  that  he  was  the 
founder  of  a  brilliant  kingdom,  which  will  ever  be  famous  in 
history  and  romance,  as  the  last  rallying  place  of  Moslem 
power  and  splendor  in  the  Peninsula.  Though  his  undertak 
ings  were  vast,  and  his  expenditures  immense,  yet  his  treasury 
was  always  full ;  and  this  seeming  contradiction  gave  rise 
to  the  story  that  he  was  versed  in  magic  art,  and  possessed  of 
the  secret  for  transmuting  baser  metals  into  gold.  Those  who 
have  attended  to  his  domestic  policy,  as  here  set  forth,  will 
easily  understand  the  natural  magic  and  simple  alchemy  which 
made  his  ample  treasury  to  overflow. 


YUSEF   ABUL   HAGIG, 

THE    FINISHER     OF    THE    ALHAMBRA. 

To  the  foregoing  particulars,  concerning  the  Moslem  princes 
who  once  reigned  in  these  halls,  I  shall  add  a  brief  notice  of  the 
monarch  who  completed  and  embellished  the  Alhambra.  Yusef 
Abul  Hagig  (or  as  it  is  sometimes  written,  Haxis)  was  another 
prince  of  the  noble  line  of  Nasar.  He  ascended  the  throne 
of  Granada  in  the  year  of  grace  1333,  and  is  described  by  Mos 
lem  writers  as  having  a  noble  presence,  great  bodily  strength, 
and  a  fair  complexion,  and  the  majesty  of  his  countenance  in 
creased,  say  they,  by  suffering  his  beard  to  grow  to  a  dignified 
length  and  dyeing  it  black.  His  manners  were  gentle,  affable, 
and  urbane  ;  he  carried  the  benignity  of  his  nature  into  war 
fare,  prohibiting  all  wanton  cruelty,  and  enjoining  mercy  and 
protection  towards  women  and  children,  the  aged  and  infirm, 
and  all  friars  and  other  persons  of  holy  and  recluse  life.  But 
though  he  possessed  the  courage  common  to  generous  spirits. 
the  bent  of  his  genius  was  more  for  peace  than  war,  and 
though  repeatedly  obliged  by  circumstances  to  take  up  arms, 
he  was  generally  unfortunate. 

Among  other  ill-starred  enterprises,  he  undertook  a  great 
campaign,  in  conjunction  with  the  king  of  Morocco,  against 
the  kings  of  Castile  and  Portugal,  but  was  defeated  in  the 
memorable  battle  of  Salado,  which  had  nearly  proved  a  death 
blow  to  the  Moslem  power  in  Spain. 

Yusef  obtained  a  long  truce  after  this  defeat,  and  now  his 


YUSEF  ABUL   HAGIG.  61 

character  shone  forth  in  its  true  lustre.  He  had  an  excellent 
memory,  and  had  stored  his  mind  with  science  and  erudition ; 
his  taste  was  altogether  elegant  and  refined,  and  he  was  ac 
counted  the  best  poet  of  his  time.  Devoting  himself  to  the 
instruction  of  his  people  and  the  improvement  of  their  morals 
and  manners,  he  established  schools  in  all  the  villages,  with 
simple  and  uniform  systems  of  education ;  he  obliged  every 
hamlet  of  more  than  twelve  houses  to  have  a  mosque,  and 
purified  the  ceremonies  of  religion,  and  the  festivals  and  popu 
lar  amusements,  from  various  abuses  and  indecorums  which 
had  crept  into  them.  He  attended  vigilantly  to  the  police  of 
the  city,  establishing  nocturnal  guards  and  patrols,  and  super 
intending  all  municipal  concerns.  His  attention  was  also 
directed  towards  finishing  the  great  architectural  works  com 
menced  by  his  predecessors,  and  erecting  others  on  his  own 
plans.  The  Alhambra,  which  had  been  founded  by  the  good 
Alhamar,  was  now  completed.  Yusef  constructed  the  beauti 
ful  Gate  of  Justice,  forming  the  grand  entrance  to  the  for 
tress,  which  he  finished  in  1348.  He  likewise  adorned  many 
of  the  courts  and  halls  of  the  palace,  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
inscriptions  on  the  walls,  in  which  his  name  repeatedly  occurs. 
He  built  also  the  noble  Alcazar  or  citadel  of  Malaga,  now  un 
fortunately  a  mere  mass  of  crumbling  ruins,  but  which  most 
probably  exhibited  in  its  interior,  similar  elegance  and  mag 
nificence  with  the  Alhambra. 

The  genius  of  a  sovereign  stamps  a  character  upon  his  time. 
The  nobles  of  Granada,  imitating  the  elegant  and  graceful 
taste  of  Yusef,  soon  filled  the  city  of  Granada  with  magnifi 
cent  palaces  ;  the  halls  of  which  were  paved  with  Mosaic,  the 
walls  and  ceilings  wrought  in  fretwork,  and  delicately  gilded 
and  painted  with  azure,  vermilion,  and  other  brilliant  colors, 
or  minutely  inlaid  with  cedar  and  other  precious  woods  ;  speci 
mens  of  which  have  survived,  in  all  their  lustre,  the  lapse  of 
several  centuries.  Many  of  the  houses  had  fountains,  which 
threw  up  jets  of  water  to  refresh  and  cool  the  air.  They  had 
lofty  towers  also,  of  wood  or  stone,  curiously  carved  and  orna 
mented,  and  covered  with  plates  of  metal  that  glittered  in  the 
sun.  Such  was  the  refined  and  delicate  taste  in  architecture 
that  prevailed  among  this  elegant  people  ;  insomuch  that  to 
use  the  beautiful  simile  of  an  Arabian  writer,  "  Granada,  in 
the  days  of  Yusef.  was  as  a  silver  vase  filled  with  emeralds 
and  jacinths." 

One  anecdote  will  be  sufficient  to  show  the  magnanimity  of 
this  generous  prince.  The  long  truce  which  had  succeeded 


62  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

the  battle  of  Salado  was  at  an  end,  and  every  effort  of  Yusef 
to  renew  it  was  in  vain.  His  deadly  foe,  Alfonzo  XL  of  Cas 
tile,  took  the  field  with  great  force,  and  laid  siege  to  Gibraltar. 
Yusef  reluctantly  took  up  arms,  and  sent  troops  to  the  relief 
of  the  place.  In  the  midst  of  his  anxiety,  he  received  tidings 
that  his  dreaded  foe  had  suddenly  fallen  a  victim  to  the  plague. 
Instead  of  manifesting  exultation  on  the  occasion,  Yusef  called 
to  mind  the  great  qualities  of  the  deceased,  and  was  touched 
with  a  noble  sorrow.  "  Alas  !  "  cried  he,  "  the  world  has  lost 
one  of  its  most  excellent  princes  ;  a  sovereign  who  knew  how 
to  honor  merit,  whether  in  friend  or  foe  !  " 

The  Spanish  chroniclers  themselves  bear  witness  to  this 
magnanimity.  According  to  their  accounts,  the  Moorish  cav 
aliers  partook  of  the  sentiment  of  their  king,  and  put  on 
mourning  for  the  death  of  Alfonzo.  Even  those  of  Gibraltar, 
who  had  been  so  closely  invested,  when  they  knew  that  the 
hostile  monarch  lay  dead  in  his  camp,  determined  among 
themselves  that  no  hostile  movement  should  be  made  against 
the  Christians.  The  day  on  which  the  camp  was  broken  up, 
and  the  army  departed  bearing  the  corpse  of  Alfonzo,  the 
Moors  issued  in  multitudes  from  Gibraltar,  and  stood  mute 
and  melancholy,  watching  the  mournful  pageant.  The  same 
reverence  for  the  deceased  was  observed  by  all  the  Moorish 
commanders  on  the  frontiers,  who  suffered  the  funeral  train 
to  pass  in  safety,  bearing  the  corpse  of  the  Christian  sovereign 
from  Gibraltar  to  Seville.1 

Yusef  did  not  long  survive  the  enemy  he  had  so  generously 
deplored.  In  the  year  1354,  as  he  was  one  day  praying  in  the 
royal  mosqiie  of  the  Alhambra,  a  maniac  rushed  suddenly 
from  behind  and  plunged  a  dagger  in  his  side.  The  cries  of 
the  king  brought  his  guards  and  courtiers  to  his  assistance. 
They  found  him  weltering  in  his  blood.  He  made  some  signs 
as  if  to  speak,  but  his  words  were  unintelligible.  They  bore 
him  senseless  to  the  royal  apartments,  where  he  expired  almost 
immediately.  The  murderer  was  cut  to  pieces,  and  his  limbs 
burnt  in  public  to  gratify  the  fury  of  the  populace. 

The  body  of  the  king  was  interred  in  a  superb  sepulchre  of 
white  marble  ;  a  long  epitaph,  in  letters  of  gold  upon  an  azure 
ground,  recorded  his  virtues.  "  Here  lies  a  king  and  martyr, 
of  an  illustrious  line,  gentle,  learned,  and  virtuous  ;  renowned 

1  "  Y  los  moros  que  estaban  en  la  villa  y  Castillo  de  Gibraltar  despues  que  sopieron 
que  el  Rey  Don  Alonzo  era  muerto,  ordenaron  entresi  que  ninguno  non  fuesse  osado 
de  fazer  ningun  movimiento  contra  los  Christianos,  ni  mover  pelear  contra  ellos, 
estovieron  todos  quedos  y  dezian  entre  ellos  qui  aquel  dia  murieraun  noble  reyy  Gran 
princlpe  del  mundo." 


THE  MYSTERIOUS  CHAMBERS.  63 

for  the  graces  of  his  person  and  his  manners  ;  whose  clemency, 
piety  and  benevolence,  were  extolled  throughout  the  kingdom 
of  Granada.  He  was  a  great  prince  ;  an  illustrious  captain  ; 
a  sharp  sword  of  the  Moslems ;  a  valiant  standard-bearer 
among  the  most  potent  monarchs,"  etc. 

The  mosque  still  exists  which  once  resounded  with  the 
dying  cries  of  Yusef,  but  the  monument  which  recorded  his  vir 
tues  has  long  since  disappeared.  His  name,  however,  remains 
inscribed  among  the  delicate  and  graceful  ornaments  of  the 
Alhambra,  and  will  be  perpetuated  in  connection  with  this 
renowned  pile,  which  it  was  his  pride  and  delight  to  beautify. 


THE  MYSTERIOUS  CHAMBERS. 

As  I  was  rambling  one  day  about  the  Moorish  halls,  my 
attention  was,  for  the  first  time,  attracted  to  a  door  in  a  remote 
gallery,  communicating  apparently  with  some  part  of  the 
Alhambra  which  I  had  not  yet  explored.  I  attempted  to  open 
it,  but  it  was  locked.  I  knocked,  but  no  one  answered,  and 
the  sound  seemed  to  reverberate  through  empty  chambers. 
Here  then  was  a  mystery.  Here  was  the  haunted  wing  of  the 
castle.  How  was  I  to  get  at  the  dark  secrets  here  shut  up 
from  the  public  eye  ?  Should  I  corne  privately  at  night  with 
lamp  and  sword,  according  to  the  prying  custom  of  heroes  of 
romance ;  or  should  I  endeavor  to  draw  the  secret  from  Pepe 
the  stuttering  gardener;  or  the  ingenuous  Dolores,  or  the 
loquacious  Mateo  ?  Or  should  I  go  frankly  and  openly  to 
Dame  Antonia  the  chdtelaine,  and  ask  her  all  about  it  ?  I 
chose  the  latter  course,  as  being  the  simplest  though  the  least 
romantic ;  and  found,  somewhat  to  my  disappointment,  that 
there  was  no  mystery  in  the  case.  I  was  welcome  to  explore 
the  apartment,  and  there  was  the  key. 

Thus  provided,  I  returned  forthwith  to  the  door.  It  opened, 
as  I  had  surmised,  to  a  range  of  vacant  chambers  ;  but  they 
were  quite  different  from  the  rest  of  the  palace.  The  archi 
tecture,  though  rich  and  antiquated,  was  European.  There 
was  nothing  Moorish  about  it.  The  first  two  rooms  were 
lofty  ;  the  ceilings,  broken  in  many  places,  were  of  cedar, 
deeply  panelled  and  skilfully  carved  with  fruits  and  flowers, 
intermingled  with  grotesque  masks  or  faces. 

The  walls  had   evidently  in  ancient  times  been  hung  with 


64  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

dainask ;  but  now  were  naked,  and  scrawled  over  by  that  class 
of  aspiring  travellers  who  defile  noble  monuments  with  their 
worthless  names.  The  windows,  dismantled  and  open  to  wind 
and  weather,  looked  out  into  a  charming  little  secluded  gar 
den,  where  an  alabaster  fountain  sparkled  among  roses  and 
myrtles,  and  was  surrounded  by  orange  and  citron  trees,  some 
of  which  flung  their  branches  into  the  chambers.  Beyond 
these  rooms  were  two  saloons,  longer  but  less  lofty,  looking 
also  into  the  garden.  In  the  compartments  of  the  panelled 
ceiling  were  baskets  of  fruit  and  garlands  of  flowers,  painted 
by  no  mean  hand,  and  in  tolerable  preservation.  The  walls 
also  had  been  painted  in  fresco  in  the  Italian  style,  but  the 
paintings  were  nearly  obliterated;  the  windows  were  in  the 
same  shattered  state  with  those  of  the  other  chambers.  This 
fanciful  suite  of  rooms  terminated  in  an  open  gallery  with 
balustrades,  running  at  right  angles  along  another  side  of  the 
garden.  The  whole  apartment,  so  delicate  and  elegant  in  its 
decorations,  so  choice  and  sequestered  in  its  situation  along 
this  retired  little  garden,  and  so  different  in  architecture  from 
the  neighboring  halls,  awakened  an  interest  in  its  history.  I 
found  on  inquiry  that  it  was  an  apartment  fitted  up  by 
Italian  artists  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  at  the  time 
Avhen  Philip  V.  and  his  second  wife,  the  beautiful  Elizabetta 
of  Farnese,  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  Parma,  were  expected  at 
the  Alhambra.  It  was  destined  for  the  queen  and  the  ladies 
of  her  train.  One  of  the  loftiest  chambers  had  been  her  sleep 
ing  room.  A  narrow  staircase,  now  walled  up,  led  up  to  a  de 
lightful  belvidere,  originally  a  mirador  of  the  Moorish  sultanas, 
communicating  with  the  harem;  but  which  was  fitted  up  as  a 
boudoir  for  the  fair  Elizabetta,  and  still  retains  the  name  of 
el  tocador  de  la  Reyna,  or  the  queen's  toilette. 

One  window  of  the  royal  sleeping-room  commanded  a  pros 
pect  of  the  Generalife  and  its  embowered  terraces,  another 
looked  out  into  the  little  secluded  garden  I  have  mentioned, 
which  was  decidedly  Moorish  in  its  character,  and  also  had  its 
history.  It  was  in  fact  the  garden  of  Lindaraxa  so  often  men 
tioned  in  descriptions  of  the  Alhambra ;  but  who  this  Lin 
daraxa  was  I  had  never  heard  explained.  A  little  research 
gave  me  the  few  particulars  known  about  her.  She  was  a 
Moorish  beauty  who  flourished  in  the  court  of  Muhamed  the 
Left-handed,  and  was  the  daughter  of  his  loyal  adherent,  the 
alcayde  of  Malaga,  who  sheltered  him  in  his  city  when  driven 
from  the  throne.  On  regaining  his  crown,  the  alcayde  was 
rewarded  for  his  fidelity.  His  daughter  had  her  apartment  in 


THE  MTSTEEIOUS  CHAMBERS.  65 

the  Alhambra,  and  was  given  by  the  king  in  marriage  to 
Xasar,  a  young  Cetimerien  prince  descended  from  Aben  Hud 
the  Just.  Their  espousals  were  doubtless  celebrated  in  the 
royal  palace,  and  their  honeymoon  may  have  passed  among 
these  very  bowers.1 

Four  centuries  had  elapsed  since  the  fair  Lindaraxa  passed 
away,  yet  how  much  of  the  fragile  beauty  of  the  scenes  she 
inhabited  remained !  The  garden  still  bloomed  in  which  she 
delighted ;  the  fountain  still  presented  the  crystal  mirror  in 
which  her  charms  may  once  have  been  reflected;  the  alabaster,  it 
is  true,  had  lost  its  whiteness  ;  the  basin  beneath,  overrun  with 
weeds,  had  become  the  lurking-place  of  the  lizard,  but  there 
was  something  in  the  very  decay  that  enhanced  the  interest 
of  the  scene,  speaking  as  it  did  of  that  mutability,  the  irrevo 
cable  lot  of  man  and  all  his  works. 

The  desolation  too  of  these  chambers,  once  the  abode  of 
the  proud  and  elegant  Elizabetta,  had  a  more  touching  charm 
for  me  than  if  I  had  beheld  them  in  their  pristine  splendor, 
glittering  with  the  pageantry  of  a  court. 

When  I  returned  to  my  quarters,  in  the  governor's  apart 
ment,  everything  seemed  tame  and  commonplace  after  the 
poetic  region  I  had  left.  The  thought  suggested  itself  :  Why 
could  I  not  change  my  quarters  to  these  vacant  chambers  ? 
that  would  indeed  be  living  in  the  Alhambra,  surrounded  by 
its  gardens  and  fountains,  as  in  the  time  of  the  Moorish  sov 
ereigns.  I  proposed  the  change  to  Dame  Antonia  and  her  fam 
ily,  and  it  occasioned  vast  surprise.  They  could  not  conceive 
any  rational  inducement  for  the  choice  of  an  apartment  so  for 
lorn,  remote  and  solitary.  Dolores  exclaimed  at  its  frightful 
loneliness ;  nothing  but  bats  and  owls  flitting  about  —  and 
then  a  fox  and  wild-cat  kept  in  the  vaults  of  the  neighboring 
baths,  and  roamed  about  at  night.  The  good  Tia  had  more 
reasonable  objections.  The  neighborhood  was  infested  by 
vagrants ;  gypsies  swarmed  in  the  caverns  of  the  adjacent 
hills ;  the  palace  was  ruinous  and  easy  to  be  entered  in  many 
places ;  the  rumor  of  a  stranger  quartered  alone  in  one  of  the 
remote  and  ruined  apartments,  out  of  the  hearing  of  the  rest 
of  the  inhabitants,  might  tempt  unwelcome  visitors  in  the 
night,  especially  as  foreigners  were  always  supposed  to  be 

1  Una  de  lag  cosas  en  que  tienen  precisa  intervencion  los  Reyes  Moros  es  en  el  raatri- 
monio  de  sus  grandes  :  de  aqui  nace  que  todos  los  sefiores  llegadas  a  la  persona  real  si 
casan  en  palacio,  y  siernpre  huvo  su  quarto  destin.ido  para  esta  ceremonia. 

One  of  the  things  in  which  the  Moorish  kings  interfered  was  in  the  marriage  of 
their  nobles :  hence  it  came  that  all  the  seiiors  attached  to  the  royal  person  were 
married  in  the  palace;  and  there  was  always  a  chamber  destined  for  the  c«r«mony. 
—  Paseospor  Granada,  Paseo  XXI. 


66  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

well  stocked  with  money.  I  was  not  to  be  diverted  from  my 
humor,  however,  and  my  will  was  law  with  these  good  people. 
So,  calling  in  the  assistance  of  a  carpenter,  and  the  ever  offi 
cious  Mateo  Ximenes,  the  doors  and  windows  were  soon 
placed  in  a  state  of  tolerable  security,  and  the  sleeping-room 
of  the  stately  Elizabetta  prepared  for  my  reception.  Mateo 
kindly  volunteered  as  a  body-guard  to  sleep  in  my  ante 
chamber  ;  but  I  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  put  his  valor 
to  the  proof. 

With  all  the  hardihood  I  had  assumed  and  all  the  precau 
tions  I  had  taken,  I  must  confess  the  first  night  passed  in 
these  quarters  was  inexpressibly  dreary.  I  do  not  think  it 
was  so  much  the  apprehension  of  dangers  from  without  that 
affected  me,  as  the  character  of  the  place  itself,  with  all  its 
strange  associations :  the  deeds  of  violence  committed  there ; 
the  tragical  ends  of  many  of  those  who  had  once  reigned 
there  in  splendor.  As  I  passed  beneath  the  fated  halls  of  the 
tower  of  Comares  on  the  way  to  my  chamber,  I  called  to  mind 
a  quotation,  that  used  to  thrill  me  in  the  days  of  boyhood :  — 

Fate  sits  on  these  dark  battlements  and  frowns: 
And,  as  the  portal  opens  to  receive  me, 
A  voice  in  sullen  echoes  through  the  courts 
Tells  of  a  nameless  deed ! 

The  whole  family  escorted  me  to  my  chamber,  and  took 
leave  of  me  as  of  one  engaged  on  a  perilous  enterprise  ;  and 
when  I  heard  their  retreating  steps  die  away  along  the  waste 
antechambers  and  echoing  galleries,  and  turned  the  key  of 
my  door,  I  was  reminded  of  those  hobgoblin  stories,  where 
the  hero  is  left  to  accomplish  the  adventure  of  an  enchanted 
house. 

Even  the  thoughts  of  fair  Elizabetta  and  the  beauties  of  her 
court,  who  had  once  graced  these  chambers,  now,  by  a  perver 
sion  of  fancy,  added  to  the  gloom.  Here  was  the  scene  of 
their  transient  gayety  and  loveliness;  here  were  the  very 
traces  of  their  elegance  and  enjoyment ;  but  what  and  where 
were  they  ?  —  Dust  and  ashes  !  tenants  of  the  tomb  !  phan 
toms  of  the  memory ! 

A  vague  and  indescribable  awe  was  creeping  over  me.  I 
would  fain  have  ascribed  it  to  the  thoughts  of  robbers  awak 
ened  by  the  evening's  conversation,  but  I  felt  it  was  some 
thing  more  unreal  and  absurd.  The  long-buried  superstitions 
of  the  nursery  were  reviving,  and  asserting  their  power  over 
my  imagination.  Everything  began  to  be  affected  by  the 


THE  MYSTERIOUS  CHAMBERS.  67 

working  of  my  mind.  The  whispering  of  the  wind,  among 
the  citron-trees  beneath  my  window,  had  something  sinister. 
I  cast  my  eyes  into  the  garden  of  Lindaraxa ;  the  groves  pre 
sented  a  gulf  of  shadows  ;  the  thickets,  indistinct  and  ghastly 
shapes.  I  was  glad  to  close  the  window,  but  my  chamber 
itself  became  infected.  There  was  a  slight  rustling  noise 
overhead ;  a  bat  suddenly  emerged  from  a  broken  panel  of  the 
ceiling,  flitting  about  the  room  and  athwart  my  solitary  lamp ; 
and  as  the  fateful  bird  almost  flouted  my  face  with  his  noise 
less  wing,  the  grotesque  faces  carved  in  high  relief  in  the 
cedar  ceiling,  whence  he  had  emerged,  seemed  to  mope  and 
mow  at  me. 

Rousing  myself,  and  half  smiling  at  this  temporary  weak 
ness,  I  resolved  to  brave  it  out  in  the  true  spirit  of  the  hero 
of  the  enchanted  house;  so,  taking  lamp  in  hand,  I  sallied 
forth  to  make  a  tour  of  the  palace.  Notwithstanding  every 
mental  exertion  the  task  was  a  severe  one.  I  had  to  traverse 
waste  halls  and  mysterious  galleries,  where  the  rays  of  the 
lamp  extended  but  a  short  distance  around  me.  I  walked,  as 
it  were,  in  a  mere  halo  of  light,  walled  in  by  impenetrable 
darkness.  The  vaulted  corridors  were  as  caverns  ;  the  ceil 
ings  of  the  halls  were  lost  in  gloom.  I  recalled  all  that 
had  been  said  of  the  danger  from  interlopers  in  these  remote 
and  ruined  apartments.  Might  not  some  vagrant  foe  be  lurk 
ing  before  or  behind  me,  in  the  outer  darkness  ?  My  own 
shadow,  cast  upon  the  wall,  began  to  disturb  me.  The  echoes 
of  my  own  footsteps  along  the  corridors  made  me  pause 
and  look  round.  I  was  traversing  scenes  fraught  with  dismal 
recollections.  One  dark  passage  led  down  to  the  mosque 
where  Yusef,  the  Moorish  monarch,  the  finisher  of  the  Alham- 
bra,  had  been  basely  murdered.  In  another  place,  I  trod  the 
gallery  where  another  monarch  had  been  struck  down  by  the 
poniard  of  a  relative  whom  he  had  thwarted  in  his  love. 

A  low  murmuring  sound,  as  of  stifled  voices  and  clanking 
chains,  now  reached  me.  It  seemed  to  come  from  the  Hall  of 
the  Abencerrages.  I  knew  it  to  be  the  rush  of  water  through 
subterranean  channels,  but  it  sounded  strangely  in  the  night, 
and  reminded  me  of  the  dismal  stories  to  which  it  had  given 
rise. 

Soon,  however,  my  ear  was  assailed  by  sounds  too  fearfully 
real  to  be  the  work  of  fancy.  As  I  was  crossing  the  Hall  of 
Ambassadors,  low  moans  and  broken  ejaculations  rose,  as  it 
were,  from  beneath  my  feet.  I  paused  and  listened.  They 
then  appeared  to  be  outside  of  the  tower  —  then  again  within. 


68  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

Then  broke  forth  bowlings  as  of  an  animal  —  then  stifled 
shrieks  and  inarticulate  ravings.  Heard  in  that  dead  hour  and 
singular  place,  the  effect  was  thrilling.  I  had  no  desire  for 
further  perambulation  ;  but  returned  to  my  chamber  with  in 
finitely  more  alacrity  than  I  had  sallied  forth,  and  drew  my 
breath  more  freely  when  once  more  within  its  walls  and  the 
door  bolted  behind  me.  When  I  awoke  in  the  morning,  with 
the  sun  shining  in  at  my  window  and  lighting  up  every  part 
of  the  building  with  his  cheerful  and  truth-telling  beams,  I 
could  scarcely  recall  the  shadows  and  fancies  conjured  up  by 
the  gloom  of  the  preceding  night ;  or  believe  that  the  scenes 
around  me,  so  naked  and  apparent,  could  have  been  clothed 
with  such  imaginary  horrors. 

Still,  the  dismal  howlings  and  ejaculations  I  had  heard  were 
not  ideal ;  they  were  soon  accounted  for,  however,  by  my 
handmaid  Dolores :  being  the  ravings  of  a  poor  maniacj  a 
brother  of  her  aunt,  who  was  subject  to  violent  paroxysms, 
during  which  he  was  confined  in  a  vaulted  room  beneath  the 
Hall  of  Ambassadors. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  evenings  a  thorough  change  took 
place  in  the  scene  and  its  associations.  The  moon,  which 
when  I  took  possession  of  my  new  apartments  was  invisible, 
gradually  gained  each  evening  upon  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
and  at  length  rolled  in  full  splendor  above  the  towers,  pouring 
a  flood  of  tempered  light  into  every  court  and  hall.  The  gar 
den  beneath  my  window,  before  wrapped  in  gloom,  was  gently 
lighted  up,  the  orange  and  citron  trees  were  tipped  with  silver ; 
the  fountain  sparkled  in  the  moonbeams,  and  even  the  blush 
of  the  rose  was  faintly  visible. 

I  now  felt  the  poetic  merit  of  the  Arabic  inscription  on  the 
walls :  "  How  beauteous  is  this  garden ;  where  the  flowers  of 
the  earth  vie  with  the  stars  of  heaven.  What  can  compare 
with  the  vase  of  yon  alabaster  fountain  filled  with  crystal 
water  ?  nothing  but  the  moon  in  her  fulness,  shining  in  the 
midst  of  an  unclouded  sky  ! " 

On  such  heavenly  nights  I  would  sit  for  hours  at  my  window 
inhaling  the  sweetness  of  the  garden,  and  musing  on  the 
checkered  fortunes  of  those  whose  history  was  dimly  shadowed 
out  in  the  elegant  memorials  around.  Sometimes,  when  all 
was  quiet,  and  the  clock  from  the  distant  cathedral  of  Granada 
struck  the  midnight  hour,  I  have  sallied  out  on  another  tour 
and  wandered  over  the  whole  building ;  but  how  different  from 
my  first  tour !  No  longer  dark  and  mysterious ;  no  longer 
peopled  with  shadowy  foes  ;  no  longer  recalling  scenes  of 


COLONNADE    IN    THE    COURT    OF   THE    ALBERCA. 


THE  MYSTERIOUS  CHAMBERS.  69 

violence  and  murder ;  all  was  open,  spacious,  beautiful ;  every 
thing  called  up  pleasing  and  romantic  fancies ;  Lindaraxa  once 
more  walked  in  her  garden ;  the  gay  chivalry  of  Moslem 
Granada  once  more  glittered  about  the  Court  of  Lions  !  Who 
can  do  justice  to  a  moonlight  night  in  such  a  climate  and  such 
a  place  ?  The  temperature  of  a  summer  midnight  in  Anda 
lusia  is  perfectly  ethereal.  We  seem  lifted  up  into  a  purer 
atmosphere  ;  we  feel  a  serenity  of  soul,  a  buoyancy  of  spirits, 
an  elasticity  of  frame,  which  render  mere  existence  happiness. 
But  when  moonlight  is  added  to  all  this,  the  effect  is  like 
enchantment.  Under  its  plastic  sway  the  Alhambra  seems  to 
regain  its  pristine  glories.  Every  rent  and  chasm  of  time ; 
every  mouldering  tint  and  weather-stain  is  gone  ;  the  marble 
resumes  its  original  whiteness  ;  the  long  colonnades  brighten 
in  the  moonbeams  ;  the  halls  are  illuminated  with  a  softened 
radiance,  —  we  tread  the  enchanted  palace  of  an  Arabian  tale  I 

What  a  delight,  at  such  a  time,  to  ascend  to  the  little  airy 
pavilion  of  the  queen's  toilet  (el  tocador  de  la  reyna),  which, 
like  a  bird-cage,  overhangs  the  valley  of  the  Darro,  and  gaze 
from  its  light  arcades  upon  the  moonlight  prospect !  To  the 
right,  the  swelling  mountains  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  robbed  of 
their  ruggedness  and  softened  into  a  fairy-land,  with  their 
snowy  summits  gleaming  like  silver  clouds  against  the  deep 
blue  sky.  And  then  to  lean  over  the  parapet  of  the  Tocador 
and  gaze  down  upon  Granada  and  the  Albaycin  spread  out  like 
a  map  below ;  all  buried  in  deep  repose ;  the  white  palaces 
and  convents  sleeping  in  the  moonshine,  and  beyond  all  these 
the  vapory  Vega  fading  away  like  a  dream-land  in  the  distance. 

Sometimes  the  faint  click  of  castanets  rise  from  the  Ala- 
rneda,  where  some  gay  Andalusians  are  dancing  away  the 
summer  night.  Sometimes  the  dubious  tones  of  a  guitar  and 
the  notes  of  an  amorous  voice,  tell  perchance  the  whereabout 
of  some  moonstruck  lover  serenading  his  lady's  window. 

Such  is  a  faint  picture  of  the  moonlight  nights  I  have  passed 
loitering  about  the  courts  and  halls  and  balconies  of  this  most 
suggestive  pile ;  "  feeding  my  fancy  with  sugared  supposi 
tions,"  and  enjoying  that  mixture  of  revery  and  sensation 
which  steal  away  existence  in  a  southern  climate ;  so  that  it 
has  been  almost  morning  before  I  have  retired  to  bed,  and 
been  lulled  to  sleep  by  the  falling  waters  of  the  fountain  of 
Lindaraxa. 


70  THE  ALHAMBRA. 


PANORAMA  FROM  THE  TOWER  OF  COMARES. 

IT  is  a  sereiie  and  beautiful  morning :  the  sun  has  not  gained 
sufficient  power  to  destroy  the  freshness  of  the  night.  What 
a  morning  to  mount  to  the  summit  of  the  Tower  of  Comares, 
and  take  a  bird's-eye  view  of  Granada  and  its  environs  ! 

Come  then,  worthy  reader  and  comrade,  follow  nay  steps 
into  this  vestibule,  ornamented  with  rich  tracery,  which  opens 
into  the  Hall  of  Ambassadors.  We  will  not  enter  the  hall, 
however,  but  turn  to  this  small  door  opening  into  the  Avail. 
Have  a  care !  here  are  steep  winding  steps  and  but  scanty 
light,  yet  up  this  narrow,  obscure,  and  spiral  staircase,  the 
proud  monarchs  of  Granada  and  their  queens  have  often 
ascended  to  the  battlements  to  watch  the  approach  of  invad- 
kig  armies,  or  gaze  with  anxious  hearts  on  the  battles  in  the 
Vega. 

At  length  we  have  reached  the  terraced  roof,  and  may  take 
breath  for  a  moment,  Avhile  we  cast  a  general  eye  over  the 
splendid  panorama  of  city  and  country ;  of  rocky  mountain, 
verdant  valley,  and  fertile  plain ;  of  castle,  cathedral,  Moorish 
towers,  and  Gothic  domes,  crumbling  ruins,  arid  blooming 
groves.  Let  us  approach  the  battlements,  and  cast  our  eyes 
immediately  below.  See,  on  this  side  we  have  the  whole 
plain  of  the  Alhambra  laid  open  to  us,  and  can  look  down 
into  its  courts  and  gardens.  At  the  foot  of  the  tower  is  the 
Court  of  the  Alberca,  with  its  great  tank  or  fishpool,  bordered 
with  flowers ;  and  yonder  is  the  Court  of  Lions,  with  its 
famous  fountain,  and  its  light  Moorish  arcades ;  and  in  the 
centre  of  the  pile  is  the  little  garden  of  Lindaraxa,  buried  in 
the  heart  of  the  building,  with  its  roses  and  citrons,  and 
shrubbery  of  emerald  green. 

That  belt  of  battlements,  studded  with  square  towers,  strag 
gling  round  the  whole  brow  of  the  hill,  is  the  outer  boundary 
of  the  fortress.  Some  of  the  towers,  you  may  perceive,  are  in 
ruins,  and  their  massive  fragments  buried  among  vines,  fig- 
trees  and  aloes. 

Let  us  look  on  this  northern  side  of  the  tower.  It  is  a 
giddy  height;  the  very  foundations  of  the  tower  rise  above 
the  groves  of  the  steep  hill-side.  And  see  !  a  long  fissure  in 
the  massive  wa,lls,  shows  that  the  tower  has  been  rent  by 
some  of  the  earthquakes,  which  from  time  to  time  have  thrown 
Granada  into  consternation ;  and  which,  sooner  or  later,  must 


PANORAMA   FROM  THE  TOWER   OF  COM  A  RES.       71 

reduce  this  crumbling  pile  to  a  mere  mass  of  ruin.  The  deep 
narrow  glen  below  us,  which  gradually  widens  as  it  opens 
from  the  mountains,  is  the  valley  of  the  Darro ;  you  see  the 
little  river  winding  its  way  under  imbowered  terraces,  and 
among  orchards  and  flower-gardens.  It  is  a  stream  famous  in 
old  times  for  yielding  gold,  and  its  sands  are  still  sifted  occa 
sionally,  in  search  of  the  precious  ore.  Some  of  those  white 
pavilions,  which  here  and  there  gleam  from  among  groves  and 
vineyards,  were  rustic  retreats  of  the  Moors,  to  enjoy  the 
refreshment  of  their  gardens.  Well  have  they  been  com 
pared  by  one  of  their  poets  to  so  many  pearls  set  in  a  bed  of 
emeralds. 

The  airy  palace,  with  its  tall  white  towers  and  long  arcades, 
which  breasts  yon  mountain,  among  pompous  groves  and  hang 
ing  gardens,  is  the  Generalise,  a  summer  palace  of  the  Moorish 
kings,  to  which  they  resorted  during  the  sultry  months  to 
enjoy  a  still  more  breezy  region  than  that  of  the  Alhambra. 
The  naked  summit  of  the  height  above  it,  where  you  behold 
some  shapeless  ruins,  is  the  Silla  del  Moro,  or  Seat  of  the 
Moor,  so  called  from  having  been  a  retreat  of  the  unfortunate 
Boabdil  during  the  time  of  an  insurrection,  where  he  seated 
himself,  and  looked  down  mournfully  upon  his  rebellious  city. 

A  murmuring  sound  of  water  now  and  then  rises  from  the 
valley.  It  is  from  the  aqueduct  of  yon  Moorish  mill,  nearly 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  The  avenue  of  trees  beyond  is  the 
Alameda,  along  the  bank  of  the  Darro,  a  favorite  resort  in 
evenings,  and  a  rendezvous  of  lovers  in  the  summer  nights, 
when  the  guitar  may  be  heard  at  a  late  hour  from  the  benches 
along  its  walks.  At  present  you  see  none  but  a  few  loitering 
monks  there,  and  a  group  of  water-carriers.  The  latter  are 
burdened  with  water  jars  of  ancient  Oriental  construction, 
such  as  were  used  by  the  Moors.  They  have  been  filled  at 
the  cold  and  limpid  spring  called  the  fountain  of  Avellanos. 
Yon  mountain  path  leads  to  the  fountain,  a  favorite  resort  of 
Moslems  as  well  as  Christians ;  for  this  is  said  to  be  the 
Adinamar  (Aynu-1-adamar),  the  "  Fountain  of  Tears,"  men 
tioned  by  Ibn  Batuta  the  traveller,  and  celebrated  in  the 
histories  and  romances  of  the  Moors. 

You  start !  'tis  nothing  but  a  hawk  that  we  have  frightened 
from  his  nest.  This  old  tower  is  a  complete  breeding-place 
for  vagrant  birds  ;  the  swallow  and  martlet  abound  in  every 
chink  and  cranny,  and  circle  about  it  the  whole  day  long ; 
while  at  night,  when  all  other  birds  have  gone  to  rest,  the 
moping  owl  comes  out  of  its  lurking-place,  and  utters  its 


72  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

boding  cry  from  the  battlements.  See  how  the  hawk  we  have 
dislodged  sweeps  away  below  us,  skimming  over  the  tops  of 
the  trees,  and  sailing  up  to  the  ruins  above  the  Generalife ! 

I  see  you  raise  your  eyes  to  the  snowy  summit  of  yon  pile 
of  mountains,  shining  like  a  white  summer  cloud  in  the  blue 
sky.  It  is  the  Sierra  Nevada,  the  pride  and  delight  of  Gra 
nada  ;  the  source  of  her  cooling  breezes  and  perpetual  verdure  ; 
of  her  gushing  fountains  and  perennial  streams.  It  is  this 
glorious  pile  of  mountains  which  gives  to  Granada  that  com 
bination  of  delights  so  rare  in  a  southern  city;  the  fresh 
vegetation  and  temperate  airs  of  a  northern  climate,  with  the 
vivifying  ardor  of  a  tropical  sun,  and  the  cloudless  azure  of  a 
southern  sky.  It  is  this  aerial  treasury  of  snow,  which,  melt 
ing  in  proportion  to  the  increase  of  the  summer  heat,  sends 
down  rivulets  and  streams  through  every  glen  and  gorge  of 
the  Alpuxarras,  diffusing  emerald  verdure  and  fertility  through 
out  a  chain  of  happy  and  sequestered  valleys. 

These  mountains  may  be  well  called  the  glory  of  Granada. 
They  dominate  the  whole  extent  of  Andalusia,  and  may  be 
seen  from  its  most  distant  parts.  The  muleteer  hails  them, 
as  he  views  their  frosty  peaks  from  the  sultry  level  of  the 
plain ;  and  the  Spanish  mariner  on  the  deck  of  his  bark,  far, 
far  off  on  the  bosom  of  the  blue  Mediterranean,  watches  them 
with  a  pensive  eye,  thinks  of  delightful  Granada,  and  chants, 
in  low  voice,  some  old  romance  about  the  Moors. 

See  to  the  South  at  the  foot  of  those  mountains  a  line  of 
arid  hills,  down  which  a  long  train  of  mules  is  slowly  moving. 
Here  was  the  closing  scene  of  Moslem  domination.  From  the 
summit  of  one  of  those  hills  the  unfortunate  Boabdil  cast  back 
his  last  look  upon  Granada,  and  gave  vent  to  the  agony  of  his 
soul.  It  is  the  spot  famous  in  song  and  story,  "  The  last  sigh 
of  the  Moor." 

Further  this  way  these  arid  hills  slope  down  into  the  luxu 
rious  Vega,  from  which  he  had  just  emerged :  a  blooming 
wilderness  of  grove  and  garden,  and  teeming  orchard,  with  the 
Xenil  winding  through  it  in  silver  links,  and  feeding  innu 
merable  rills ;  which,  conducted  through  ancient  Moorish 
channels,  maintain  the  landscape  in  perpetual  verdure.  Here 
were  the  beloved  bowers  and  gardens,  and  rural  pavilions, 
for  which  the  unfortunate  Moors  fought  with  such  desperate 
valor.  The  very  hovels  and  rude  granges,  now  inhabited  by 
boors,  show,  by  the  remains  of  arabesques  and  other  tasteful 
decoration,  that  they  were  elegant  residences  in  the  days  of 
the  Moslems.  Behold,  in  the  very  centre  of  this  eventful  plain. 


PANORAMA   FROM   THE   TOWER   OF  COMARES.       73 

a  place  which  in  a  manner  links  the  history  of  the  Old  World 
with  that  of  the  New.  Yon  line  of  walls  and  towers  gleaming 
in  the  morning  sun,  is  the  city  of  Sante  Fe,  built  by  the  Catholic 
sovereigns  during  the  siege  of  Granada,  after  a  conflagration 
had  destroyed  their  camp.  It  was  to  these  walls  Columbus 
was  called  back  by  the  heroic  queen,  and  within  them  the 
treaty  was  concluded  which  led  to  the  discovery  of  the  Western 
World.  Behind  yon  promontory  to  the  west  is  the  bridge  of 
Finos,  renowned  for  many  a  bloody  fight  between  Moors  and 
Christians.  At  this  bridge  the  messenger  overtook  Columbus 
when,  despairing  of  success  with  the  Spanish  sovereigns,  he 
was  departing  to  carry  his  project  of  discovery  to  the  court  of 
France. 

Above  the  bridge  a  range  of  mountains  bounds  the  Vega  to 
the  west :  the  ancient  barrier  between  Granada  and  the  Chris 
tian  territories.  Among  their  heights  you  may  still  discern 
warrior  towns  ;  their  gray  walls  and  battlements  seeming  of  a 
piece  with  the  rocks  on  which  they  are  built.  Here  and  there 
a  solitary  atalaya,  or  watchtower,  perched  on  a  mountain  peak, 
looks  down  as  it  were  from  the  sky  into  the  valley  on  either 
side.  How  often  have  these  atalayas  given  notice,  by  fire  at 
night  or  smoke  by  day,  of  an  approaching  foe !  It  was  down 
a  cragged  defile  of  these  mountains,  called  the  Pass  of  Lope, 
that  the  Christian  armies  descended  into  the  Vega.  Hound 
the  base  of  yon  gray  and  naked  mountain  (the  mountain  of 
Elvira),  stretching  its  bold  rocky  promontory  into  {he  bosom 
of  the  plain,  the  invading  squadrons  would  come  bursting  into 
view,  with  flaunting  banners  and  clangor  of  drum  and  trumpet. 

Five  hundred  years  have  elapsed  since  Ismael  ben  Ferrag,  a 
Moorish  king  of  Granada,  beheld  from  this  very  tower  an  inva 
sion  of  the  kind,  and  an  insulting  ravage  of  the  Vega ;  on  which 
occasion  he  displayed  an  instance  of  chivalrous  magnanimity, 
often  witnessed  in  the  Moslem  princes  ;  "  whose  history,"  says 
an  Arabian  writer,  "  abounds  in  generous  actions  and  noble 
deeds  that  will  last  through  all  succeeding  ages,  and  live  forever 
in  the  memory  of  man."  —  But  let  us  sit  down  on  this  parapet 
and  I  will  relate  the  anecdote. 

It  was  in  the  year  of  Grace  1319,  that  Ismael  ben  Ferrag 
beheld  from  this  tower  a  Christian  camp  whitening  the  skirts 
of  yon  mountain  of  Elvira.  The  royal  princes,  Don  Juan  and 
Don  Pedro,  regents  of  Castile  during  the  minority  of  Alfonso 
XI.,  had  already  laid  waste  the  country  from  Alcaudete  to 
Alcala  la  Eeal,  capturing  the  castle  of  Illora  and  setting  fire 
to  its  suburbs,  and  they  now  carried  their  insulting  ravages  to 


74  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

the  very  gates  of  Granada,  defying  the  king  to  sally  forth  and 
give  them  battle. 

Ismael,  though  a  young  and  intrepid  prince,  hesitated  to 
accept  the  challenge.  He  had  not  sufficient  force  at  hand,  and 
awaited  the  arrival  of  troops  summoned  from  the  neighboring 
towns.  The  Christian  princes,  mistaking  his  motives,  gave  up 
all  hope  of  drawing  him  forth,  and  having  glutted  themselves 
with  ravage,  struck  their  tents  and  began  their  homeward 
march.  Don  Pedro  led  the  van,  and  Don  Juan  brought  up  the 
rear,  but  their  march  was  confused  -and  irregular,  the  army 
being  greatly  encumbered  by  the  spoils  and  captives  they  had 
taken. 

By  this  time  King  Ismael  had  received  his  expected  re 
sources,  and  putting  them  under  the  command  of  Osmyn,  one 
of  the  bravest  of  his  generals,  sent  them  forth  in  hot  pursuft 
of  the  enemy.  The  Christians  were  overtaken  in  the  denies  of 
the  mountains.  A  panic  seized  them ;  they  were  completely 
routed,  and  driven  with  great  slaughter  across  the  borders. 
Both  of  the  princes  lost  their  lives.  The  body  of  Don  Pedro 
was  carried  off  by  his  soldiers,  but  that  of  Don  Juan  was  lost 
in  the  darkness  of  the  night.  His  son  wrote  to  the  Moorish 
king,  entreating  that  the  body  of  his  father  might  be  sought 
and  honorably  treated.  Ismael  forgot  in  a  moment  that  Don 
Juan  was  an  enemy,  who  had  carried  ravage  and  insult  to  the 
very  gate  of  his  capital ;  he  only  thought  of  him  as  a  gallant 
cavalier  and  a  royal  prince.  By  his  command  diligent  search 
was  made  for  the  body.  It  was  found  in  a  barranco  and  brought 
to  Granada.  There  Ismael  caused  it  to  be  laid  out  in  state  on 
a  lofty  bier,  surrounded  by  torches  and  tapers,  in  one  of  these 
halls  of  the  Alharnbra.  Otemyn  and  other  of  the  noblest  cava 
liers  were  appointed  as  a  guard  of  honor,  and  the  Christian 
captives  were  assembled  to  pray  around  it. 

In  the  meantime,  Ismael  wrote  to  the  son  of  Prince  Juan 
to  send  a  convoy  for  the  body,  assuring  him  it  should  be  faith 
fully  delivered  up.  In  due  time,  a  band  of  Christian  cavaliers 
arrived  for  the  purpose.  They  were  honorably  received  and 
entertained  by  Ismael,  and,  on  their  departure  with  the  body, 
the  guard  of  honor  of  Moslem  cavaliers  escorted  the  funeral 
train  to  the  frontier. 

But  enough  —  the  sun  is  high  above  the  mountains,  and 
pours  his  full  fervor  on  our  heads.  Already  the  terraced  roof 
is  hot  beneath  our  feet ;  let  us  abandon  it,  and  refresh  ourselves 
under  the  Arcades  by  the  Fountain  of  the  Lions. 


FOUNTAIN    OF    LIONS. 


THE  TRUANT. 


THE  TRUANT. 

WE  have  had  a  scene  of  a  petty  tribulation  in  the  Alhambra, 
«rhich  has  thrown  a  cloud  over  the  sunny  countenance  of 
Dolores.  This  little  damsel  has  a  female  passion  for  pets  of 
All  kinds,  and  from  the  superabundant  kindness  of  her  dispo 
sition  one  of  the  ruined  courts  of  the  Alhambra  is  thronged 
with  her  favorites.  A  stately  peacock  and  his  hen  seem  to 
hold  regal  sway  here,  over  pompous  turkeys,  querulous  guinea- 
fowls,  and  a  rabble  rout  of  common  cocks  and  hens.  The 
great  delight  of  Dolores,  however,  has  for  some  time  past  been 
centred  in  a  youthful  pair  of  pigeons,  who  have  lately  entered 
into  the  holy  state  of  wedlock,  and  even  supplanted  a  tortoise- 
shell  cat  and  kittens  in  her  affections. 

As  a  tenement  for  them  wherein  to  commence  housekeeping, 
she  had  fitted  up  a  small  chamber  adjacent  to  the  kitchen,  the 
window  of  which  looked  into  one  of  the  quiet  Moorish  courts. 
Here  they  lived  in  happy  ignorance  of  any  world  beyond  the 
court  and  its  sunny  roofs.  Never  had  they  aspired  to  soar 
above  the  battlements,  or  to  mount  to  the  summit  of  the 
towers.  Their  virtuous  union  was  at  length  crowned  by  two 
spotless  and  milk-white  eggs,  to  the  great  joy  of  their  cherish 
ing  little  mistress.  Nothing  could  be  more  praiseworthy  than 
the  conduct  of  the  young  married  folks  on  this  interesting 
occasion.  They  took  turns  to  sit  upon  the  nest  until  the  eggs 
were  hatched,  and  while  their  callow  progeny  required  warmth 
and  shelter  ;  while  one  thus  stayed  at  home,  the  other  foraged 
abroad  for  food,  and  brought  home  abundant  supplies. 

This  scene  of  conjugal  felicity  has  suddenly  met  with  a  re 
verse.  Early  this  morning,  as  Dolores  was  feeding  the  male 
pigeon,  she  took  a  fancy  to  give  him  a  peep  at  the  great  world. 
Opening  a  window,  therefore,  which  looks  down  upon  the  valley 
of  the  Darro,  she  launched  him  at  once  beyond  the  walls  of 
the  Alhambra.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life  the  astonished 
bird  had  to  try  the  full  vigor  of  his  wings.  He  swept  down 
into  the  valley,  and  then  rising  upwards  with  a  surge,  soared 
almost  to  the  clouds.  Never  before  had  he  risen  to  such  a 
height,  or  experienced  such  delight  in  flying  ;  and,  like  a  young 
spendthrift  just  come  to  his  estate,  he  seemed  giddy  with  excess 
of  liberty,  and  with  the  boundless  field  of  action  suddenly 
opened  to  him.  For  the  whole  day  he  has  been  circling  about 
in  capricious  flights,  from  tower  to  tower,  and  tree  to  tree. 


76  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

Every  attempt  has  been  vain  to  lure  him  back  by  scattering 
grain  upon  the  roofs  ;  he  seems  to  have  lost  all  thought  of 
home,  of  his  tender  helpmate,  and  his  callow  young.  To  add 
to  the  anxiety  of  Dolores,  he  had  just  been  joined  by  two 
palomas  ladrones,  or  robber  pigeons,  whose  instinct  it  is  to  en 
tice  wandering  pigeons  to  their  own  dovecots.  The  fugitive, 
like  many  other  thoughtless  youths  on  their  first  launching 
upon  the  world,  seems  quite  fascinated  with  these  knowing 
but  graceless  companions,  who  have  undertaken  to  show  him 
life,  and  introduce  him  to  society.  He  has  been  soaring  with 
them  over  all  the  roofs  and  steeples  of  Granada.  A  thunder 
storm  has  passed  over  the  city,  but  he  has  not  sought  his 
home ;  night  has  closed  in,  and  still  he  comes  not.  To  deepen 
the  pathos  of  the  affair,  the  female  pigeon,  after  remaining 
several  hours  on  the  nest  without  being  relieved,  at  length 
went  forth  to  seek  her  recreant  mate  ;  but  stayed  away  so  long 
that  the  young  ones  perished  for  want  of  the  warmth  and 
shelter  of  the  parent  bosom.  At  a  late  hour  in  the  evening, 
word  was  brought  to  Dolores,  that  the  truant  bird  had  been 
seen  upon  the  towers  of  the  Generalife.  Now  it  happens  that 
the  Administrador  of  that  ancient  palace  has  likewise  a  dove 
cote,  among  the  inmates  of  which  are  said  to  be  two  or  three 
of  these  inveigling  birds,  the  terror  of  all  neighboring  pigeon- 
fanciers.  Dolores  immediately  concluded,  that  the  two  feath 
ered  sharpers  who  had  been  seen  with  her  fugitive,  were 
these  bloods  of  the  Generalife.  A  council  of  war  was  forth 
with  held  in  the  chamber  of  Tia  Antonia.  The  Generalife  is 
a  distinct  jurisdiction  from  the  Alhambra,  and  of  course  some 
punctilio,  if  not  jealousy,  exists  between  their  custodians. 
It  was  determined,  therefore,  to  send  Pope,  the  stuttering 
lad  of  the  gardens,  as  ambassador  to  the  Administrador,  re 
questing  that  if  such  fugitive  should  be  found  in  his  dominions, 
he  might  be  given  up  as  a  subject  of  the  Alhambra.  Pepe 
departed  accordingly,  on  his  diplomatic  expedition,  through 
the  moonlit  groves  and  avenues,  but  returned  in  an  hour  with 
the  afflicting  intelligence  that  no  such  bird  was  to  be  found 
in  the  dovecote  of  the  Generalife.  The  Administrador,  how 
ever,  pledged  his  sovereign  word  that  if  such  vagrant  should 
appear  there,  even  at  midnight,  he  should  instantly  be  arrested, 
and  sent  back  prisoner  to  his  little  black-eyed  mistress. 

Thus  stands  the  melancholy  affair,  which  has  occasioned 
much  distress  throughout  the  palace,  and  has  sent  the  incon 
solable  Dolores  to  a  sleepless  pillow. 

—  "Sorrow  endureth  for  a  night,"  says  the  proverb,  "but 


THE  BALCONY.  77 

joy  cometh  in  the  morning."  The  first  object  that  met  my 
eyes,  on  leaving  my  room  this  morning,  was  Dolores,  with 
the  truant  pigeon  in  her  hands,  and  her  eyes  sparkling  with 
joy.  He  had  appeared  at  an  early  hour  on  the  battlements, 
hovering  shyly  about  from  roof  to  roof,  but  at  length  entered 
the  window,  and  surrendered  himself  prisoner.  He  gained 
little  credit,  however,  by  his  return ;  for  the  ravenous  manner 
in  which  he  devoured  the  food  set  before  him  showed  that, 
like  the  prodigal  son,  he  had  been  driven  home  by  sheer  fam 
ine.  Dolores  upbraided  him  for  his  faithless  conduct,  calling 
him  all  sorts  of  vagrant  names,  though  woman-like,  she  fondled 
him  at  the  same  time  to  her  bosom,  and  covered  him  with 
kisses.  I  observed,  however,  that  she  had  taken  care  to  clip 
his  wings  to  prevent  all  future  soarings ;  a  precaution  which  I 
mention  for  the  benefit  of  all  those  who  have  truant  lovers  or 
wandering  husbands.  More  than  one  valuable  moral  might  be 
drawn  from  the  story  of  Dolores  and  her  pigeon. 


THE    BALCONY. 

I  HAVE  spoken  of  a  balcony  of  the  central  window  of  the 
Hall  of  Ambassadors.  It  served  as  a  kind  of  observatory, 
where  I  used  often  to  take  my  seat,  and  consider  not  merely 
the  heaven  above  but  the  earth  beneath.  Besides  the  mag 
nificent  prospect  which  it  commanded  of  mountain,  valley, 
and  Vega,  there  was  a  little  busy  scene  of  -human  life  laid 
open  to  inspection  immediately  below.  At  the  foot  of  the 
hill  was  an  alameda,  or  public  walk,  which,  though  not  so 
fashionable  as  the  more  modern  and  splendid  paseo  of  the 
Xenil,  still  boasted  a  varied  and  picturesque  concourse. 
Hither  resorted  the  small  gentry  of  the  suburbs,  together  with 
priests  and  friars,  who  walked  for  appetite  and  digestion ; 
majos  and  majas,  the  hsaux  and  belles  of  the  lower  classes,  in 
their  Andalusian  dresses ;  swaggering  contrabandistas,  and 
sometimes  half-muffled  and  mysterious  loungers  of  the  higher 
ranks,  on  some  secret  assignation. 

It  was  a  moving  picture  of  Spanish  life  and  character, 
which  I  delighted  to  study ;  and  as  the  astronomer  has  his 
grand  telescope  with  which  to  sweep  the  skies,  and,  as  it 
were,  bring  the  stars  nearer  for  his  inspection,  so  I  had  a 
smaller  one,  of  pocket  size,  for  the  use  of  my  observatory, 


78  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

with  which  I  could  sweep  the  regions  below,  and  bring  the 
countenances  of  the  motley  groups  so  close  as  almost,  at 
times,  to  make  me  think  I  could  divine  their  conversation  by 
the  play  and  expression  of  their  features.  I  was  thus,  in 
a  manner,  an  invisible  observer,  and,  without  quitting  my 
solitude,  could  throw  myself  in  an  instant  into  the  midst  of 
society,  —  a  rare  advantage  to  one  of  somewhat  shy  and  quiet 
habits,  and  fond,  like  myself,  of  observing  the  drama  of  life 
without  becoming  an  actor  in  the  scene. 

There  was  a  considerable  suburb  lying  below  the  Alhambra, 
filling  the  narrow  gorge  of  the  valley,  and  exten  ling  up  the 
opposite  hill  of  the  Albaycin.  Many  of  the  houses  were  built 
in  the  Moorish  style,  round  patios,  or  courts,  cooled  by  foun 
tains  and  open  to  the  sky  ;  and  as  the  inhabitants  passed  much 
of  their  time  in  these  courts,  and  on  the  terraced  roofs  during 
the  summer  season,  it  follows  that  many  a  glance  at  their 
domestic  life  might  be  obtained  by  an  aerial  spectator  like 
myself,  who  could  look  down  on  them  from  the  clouds. 

I  enjoyed,  in  some  degree,  the  advantages  of  the  student  in 
the  famous  old  Spanish  story,  who  beheld  all  Madrid  un 
roofed  for  his  inspection  ;  and  my  gossiping  squire,  Mateo 
Ximenes,  officiated  occasionally  as  my  Asmodeus,  to  give  me 
anecdotes  of  the  different  mansions  and  their  inhabitants. 

I  preferred,  however,  to  form  conjectural  histories  for  my 
self,  and  thus  would  sit  for  hours,  weaving,  from  casual  inci 
dents  and  indications  passing  under  my  eye,  a  whole  tissue 
of  schemes,  intrigues,  and  occupations  of  the  busy  mortals 
below.  There  was  scarce  a  pretty  face  or  a  striking  figure 
that  I  daily  saw;  about  which  I  had  not  thus  gradually  framed 
a  dramatic  story,  though  some  of  my  characters  would  occa 
sionally  act  in  direct  opposition  to  the  part  assigned  them, 
and  disconcert  the  whole  drama.  Reconnoitring  one  day  with 
my  glass  the  streets  of  the  Albaycin.  I  beheld  the  procession 
of  a  novice  about  to  take  the  veil ;  and  remarked  several  cir 
cumstances  which  excited  the  strongest  sympathy  in  the  fate 
of  the  youthful  being  thus  about  to  be  consigned  to  a  living 
tomb.  I  ascertained  to  my  satisfaction  that  she  was  beauti 
ful;  and,  from  the  paleness  of  her  cheek,  that  she  was  a 
victim,  rather  than  a  votary.  She  was  arrayed  in  bridal  gar 
ments,  and  decked  with  a  chaplet  of  white  flowers,  but  her 
heart  evidently  revolted  at  this  mockery  of  a  spiritual  union, 
and  yearned  after  its  earthly  loves.  A  tall  stern-looking  man 
walked  near  her  in  the  procession ;  it  was,  of  course,  the 
tyrannical  father,  who,  from  some  bigoted  or  sordid  motive, 


THE  BALCONY.  79 

had  compelled  this  sacrifice.  Amid  the  crowd  was  a  dark 
handsome  youth,  in  Andalusian  garb,  who  seemed  to  fix  on 
her  an  eye  of  agony.  It  was  doubtless  the  secret  lover  from 
whom  she  was  forever  to  be  separated.  My  indignation  rose 
as  I  noted  the  malignant  expression  painted  on  the  counte 
nances  of  the  attendant  monks  and  friars.  The  procession 
arrived  at  the  chapel  of  the  convent;  the  sun  gleamed  for 
the  last  time  upon  the  chaplet  of  the  poor  novice,  as  she 
crossed  the  fatal  threshold,  and  disappeared  within  the  build 
ing.  The  throng  poured  in  with  cowl,  and  cross,  and  min 
strelsy  ;  the  lover  paused  for  a  moment  at  the  door.  I  could 
divine  the  tumult  of  his  feelings ;  but  he  mastered  them, 
and  entered.  There  was  a  long  interval  —  I  pictured  to  my 
self  the  scene  passing  within ;  the  poor  novice  despoiled  of 
her  transient  finery,  and  clothed  in  the  conventual  garb  ;  the 
bridal  chaplet  taken  from  her  brow,  and  her  beautiful  head 
shorn  of  its  long  silken  tresses.  I  heard  her  murmur  the 
irrevocable  vow.  I  saw  her  extended  on  a  bier ;  the  death- 
pall  spread  over  her ;  the  funeral  service  performed  that  pro 
claimed  her  dead  to  the  world;  her  sighs  were  drowned  in 
the  deep  tones  of  the  organ,  and  the  plaintive  requiem  of  the 
nuns ;  the  father  looked  on,  unmoved,  without  a  tear ;  the 
lover  —  no  —  my  imagination  refused  to  portray  the  anguish 
of  the  lover  —  there  the  picture  remained  a  blank. 

After  a  time  the  throng  again  poured  forth,  and  dispersed 
various  ways,  to  enjoy  the  light  of  the  sun  and  mingle  with 
the  stirring  scenes  of  life ;  but  the  victim,  with  her  bridal 
chaplet,  was  no  longer  there.  The  door  of  the  convent  closed 
that  severed  her  from  the  world  forever.  I  saw  the  father 
and  the  lover  issue  forth  ;  they  were  in  earnest  conversation. 
The  latter  was  vehement  in  his  gesticulations  ;  I  expected 
some  violent  termination  to  my  drama;  but  an  angle  of  a 
building  interfered  and  closed  the  scene.  My  eye  afterwards 
was  frequently  turned  to  that  convent  with  painful  interest. 
I  remarked  late  at  night  a  solitary  light  twinkling  from  a 
remote  lattice  of  one  of  its  towers.  "  There,"  said  I,  "  the 
unhappy  nun  sits  weeping  in  her  cell,  while  perhaps  her  lover 
paces  the  street  below  in  unavailing  anguish." 

—  The  officious  Mateo  interrupted  my  meditations  and  de 
stroyed  in  an  instant  the  cobweb  tissue  of  my  fancy.  With 
his  usual  zeal  he  had  gathered  facts  concerning  the  scene, 
which  put  my  fictions  all  to  flight.  The  heroine  of  my  ro 
mance  was  neither  young  nor  handsome ;  she  had  no  lover ; 
she  had  entered  the  convent  of  her  own  free  will,  as  a  respect 


80  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

able  asylum,  and  was  one  of  the  most  cheerful  residents 
within  its  walls. 

It  was  some  little  while  before  I  could  forgive  the  wrong 
done  me  by  the  nun  in  being  thus  happy  in  her  cell,  in  con 
tradiction  to  all  the  rules  of  romance ;  I  diverted  my  spleen, 
however,  by  watching,  for  a  day  or  two,  the  pretty  coquetries 
of  a  dark-eyed  brunette,  who,  from  the  covert  of  a  balcony 
shrouded  with  flowering  shrubs  and  a  silken  awning,  was 
carrying  on  a  mysterious  correspondence  with  a  handsome, 
dark,  well-whiskered  cavalier,  who  lurked  frequently  in  the 
street  beneath  her  window.  Sometimes  I  saw  him  at  an  early 
hour,  stealing  forth  wrapped  to  the  eyes  in  a  mantle.  Some 
times  he  loitered  at  a  corner,  in  various  disguises,  appar 
ently  waiting  for  a  private  signal  to  slip  into  the  house. 
Then  there  was  the  tinkling  of  a  guitar  at  night,  and  a  lan 
tern  shifted  from  place  to  place  in  the  balcony.  I  imagined 
another  intrigue  like  that  of  Almaviva  ;  but  was  again  dis 
concerted  in  all  my  suppositions.  —  The  supposed  lover  turned 
out  to  be  the  husband  of  the  lady,  and  a  noted  contrabandista ; 
and  all  his  mysterious  signs  and  movements  had  doubtless 
some  smuggling  scheme  in  view. 

—  I  occasionally  amused  myself  with  noting  from  this  bal 
cony  the  gradual  changes  of  the  scenes  below,  according  to 
the  different  stages  of  the  day. 

Scarce  has  the  gray  dawn  streaked  the  sky,  and  the  earliest 
cock  crowed  from  the  cottages  of  the  hill-side,  when  the  sub 
urbs  give  sign  of  reviving  animation  ;  for  the  fresh  hours  of 
dawning  are  precious  in  the  summer  season  in  a  sultry  cli 
mate.  All  are  anxious  to  get  the  start  of  the  sun,  in  the  busi 
ness  of  the  day.  The  muleteer  drives  forth  his  loaded  train 
for  the  journey  ;  the  traveller  slings  his  carbine  behind  his 
saddle,  and  mounts  his  steed  at  the  gate  of  the  hostel ;  the 
brown  peasant  from  the  country  urges  forward  his  loitering 
beasts,  laden  with  panniers  of  sunny  fruit  and  fresh  dewy 
vegetables :  for  already  the  thrifty  housewives  are  hastening 
to  the  market. 

The  sun  is  up  and  sparkles  along  the  valley,  tipping  the 
transparent  foliage  of  the  groves.  The  matin  bells  resound 
melodiously  through  the  pure  bright  air,  announcing  the  hour 
of  devotion.  The  muleteer  halts  his  burdened  animals  before 
the  chapel,  thrusts  his  staff  through  his  belt  behind,  and 
enters  with  hat  in  hand,  smoothing  his  coal-black  hair,  to  hear 
a  mass,  and  put  up  a  prayer  for  a  prosperous  wayfaring  across 
the  sierra.  And  now  steals  forth  on  fairy  foot  the  gentle 


THE  BALCONY.  81 

&»•  flora,  in  trim  basquina,  with  restless  fan  in  hand,  and  dark 
eye  flashing  from  beneath  the  gracefully  folded  mantilla ;  she 
seeks  some  well-frequented  church  to  offer  up  her  morning 
orisons  ;  but  the  nicely-adjusted  dress,  the  dainty  shoe  and 
cobweb  stocking,  the  raven  tresses  exquisitely  braided,  the 
fresh  plucked  rose,  gleaming  among  them  like  a  gem,  show 
that  earth  divides  with  Heaven  the  empire  of  her  thoughts. 
Keep  an  eye  upon  her,  careful  mother,  or  virgin  aunt,  or  vigi 
lant  duenna,  whichever  you  be,  that  walk  behind  ! 

As  the  morning  advances,  the  din  of  labor  augments  on 
every  side ;  the  streets  are  thronged  with  man,  and  steed,  and 
beast  of  burden,  and  there  is  a  hum  and  murmur,  like  the 
surges  of  the  ocean.  As  the  sun  ascends  to  his  meridian  the 
hum  and  bustle  gradually  decline  ;  at  the  height  of  noon  there 
is  a  pause.  The  panting  city  sinks  into  lassitude,  and  for 
several  hours  there  is  a  general  repose.  The  windows  are 
closed,  the  curtains  drawn ;  the  inhabitants  retired  into  the 
coolest  recesses  of  their  mansions ;  the  full-fed  monk  snores 
in  his  dormitory ;  the  brawny  porter  lies  stretched  on  the 
pavement  beside  his  burden  ;  the  peasant  and  the  laborer 
sleep  beneath  the  trees  of  the  Alameda,  lulled  by  the  sultry 
chirping  of  the  locust.  The  streets  are  deserted,  except  by 
the  water-carrier,  who  refreshes  the  ear  by  proclaiming  the 
merits  of  his  sparkling  beverage,  "  colder  than  the  mountain 
snow  (mas  fria  que  la  nieve)." 

As  the  sun  declines,  there  is  again  a  gradual  reviving,  and 
when  the  vesper  bell  rings  out  his  sinking  knell,  all  nature 
seems  to  rejoice  that  the  tyrant  of  the  day  has  fallen.  Now 
begins  the  bustle  of  enjoyment,  when  the  citizens  pour  forth 
to  breathe  the  evening  air,  and  revel  away  the  brief  twilight 
in  the  walks  and  gardens  of  the  Darro  and  Xenil. 

As  night  closes,  the  capricious  scene  assumes  new  features. 
Light  after  light  gradually  twinkles  forth  ;  here  a  taper  from 
a  balconied  window  ;  there  a  votive  lamp  before  the  image 
of  a  Saint.  Thus,  by  degrees,  the  city  emerges  from  the  per 
vading  gloom,  and  sparkles  with  scattered  lights,  like  the 
starry  firmament.  Now  break  forth  from  court  and  garden, 
and  street  and  lane,  the  tinkling  of  innumerable  guitars,  and 
the  clicking  of  castanets  ;  blending,  at  this  lofty  height,  in  a 
faint  but  general  concert.  "Enjoy  the  moment,"  is  the  creed 
of  the  gay  and  amorous  Andalusian,  and  at  no  time  does  he 
practise  it  more  zealously  than  in  the  balmy  nights  of  sum 
mer,  wooing  his  mistress  with  the  dance,  the  love  ditty,  and 
the  passionate  serenade. 


82  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

I  was  one  evening  seated  in  the  balcony,  enjoying  the  light 
breeze  that  came  rustling  along  the  side  of  the  hill,  among  the 
tree-tops,  when  my  humble  historiographer  Mateo,  who  was  at 
my  elbow,  pointed  out  a  spacious  house,  in  an  obscure  street 
of  the  Albaycin,  about  which  he  related,  as  nearly  as  I  can 
recollect,  the  following  anecdote. 


THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  MASON. 

"  THERE  was  once  upon  a  time  a  poor  mason,  or  bricklayer, 
in  Granada,  who  kept  all  the  saints'  days  and  holidays,  and 
Saint  Monday  into  the  bargain,  and  yet,  with  all  his  devotion, 
he  grew  poorer  and  poorer,  and  could  scarcely  earn  bread  for 
his  numerous  family.  One  night  he  was  roused  from  his  first 
sleep  by  a  knocking  at  his  door.  He  opened  it,  and  beheld 
before  him  a  tall,  meagre,  cadaverous-looking  priest. 

"  '  Hark  ye,  honest  friend  ! '  said  the  stranger ;  '  I  have 
observed  that  you  are  a  good  Christian,  and  one  to  be  trusted  ; 
will  you  undertake  a  job  this  very  night  ? ' 

"  '  With  all  my  heart,  Senor  Padre,  on  condition  that  I  am 
paid  accordingly.' 

" '  That  you  shall  be ;  but  you  must  suffer  yourself  to  be 
blindfolded.' 

"  To  this  the  mason  made  no  objection  j  so,  being  hood 
winked,  he  was  led  by  the  priest  through  various  rough  lanes 
and  winding  passages,  until  they  stopped  before  the  portal  of 
a  house.  The  priest  then  applied  a  key,  turned  a  creaking 
lock,  and  opened  what  sounded  like  a  ponderous  door.  They 
entered,  the  door  was  closed  and  bolted,  and  the  mason  was 
conducted  through  an  echoing  corridor,  and  a  spacious  hall, 
to  an  interior  part  of  the  building.  Here  the  bandage  was 
removed  from  his  eyes,  and  he  found  himself  in  a  patio,  or 
court,  dimly  lighted  by  a  single  lamp.  In  the  centre  was  the 
dry  basin  of  an  old  Moorish  fountain,  under  which  the  priest 
requested  him  to  form  a  small  vault,  bricks  and  mortar  being 
at  hand  for  the  purpose.  He  accordingly  worked  all  night,  but 
without  finishing  the  job.  Just  before  daybreak  the  priest 
put  a  piece  of  gold  into  his  hand,  and  having  again  blindfolded 
him,  conducted  him  back  to  his  dwelling. 

" '  Are  you  willing,'  said  he,  '  to  return  and  complete  your 
work  ? ' 


THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  MASON.  83 

" '  Gladly,  Senor  Padre,  provided  I  am  so  well  paid.' 

"  '  Well,  then,  to-morrow  at  midnight  I  will  call  again.' 

"  He  did  so,  and  the  vault  was  completed. 

"  '  Now/  said  the  priest,  '  you  must  help  me  to  bring  forth 
the  bodies  that  are  to  be  buried  in  this  vault.' 

"  The  poor  mason's  hair  rose  on  his  head  at  these  words : 
he  followed  the  priest,  with  trembling  steps,  into  a  retired 
chamber  of  the  mansion,  expecting  to  behold  some  ghastly 
spectacle  of  death,  but  was  relieved  on  perceiving  three  or 
four  portly  jars  standing  in  one  corner.  They  were  evidently 
full  of  money,  and  it  was  with  great  labor  that  he  and  the 
priest  carried  them  forth  and  consigned  them  to  their  tomb. 
The  vault  was  then  closed,  the  pavement  replaced,  and  all 
traces  of  the  work  were  obliterated.  The  mason  was  again 
hoodwinked  and  led  forth  by  a  route  different  from  that  by 
which  he  had  come.  After  they  had  wandered  for  a  long  time 
through  a  perplexed  maze  of  lanes  and  alleys,  they  halted. 
The  priest  then  put  two  pieces  of  gold  into  his  hand :  '  Wait 
here,'  said  he,  '  until  you  hear  the  cathedral  bell  toll  for 
matins.  If  you  presume  to  uncover  your  eyes  before  that 
time,  evil  will  befall  you : '  so  saying  he  departed.  The  mason 
waited  faithfully,  amusing  himself  by  weighing  the  gold 
pieces  in  his  hand,  and  clinking  them  against  each  other. 
The  moment  the  cathedral  bell  rang  its  matin  peal,  he  un 
covered  his  eyes,  and  found  himself  on  the  banks  of  the 
Xenil ;  whence  he  made  the  best  of  his  way  home,  and  revelled 
with  his  family  for  a  whole  fortnight  on  the  profits  of  his  two 
nights'  work ;  after  which,  he  was  as  poor  as  ever. 

"  He  continued  to  work  a  little,  and  pray  a  good  deal,  and 
keep  saints'  days  and  holidays,  from  year  to  year,  while  his 
family  grew  up  as  gaunt  and  ragged  as  a  crew  of  gypsies.  As 
he  was  seated  one  evening  at  the  door  of  his  hovel,  he  was 
accosted  by  a  rich  old  curmudgeon,  who  was  noted  for  owning 
many  houses,  and  being  a  griping  landlord.  The  man  of 
money  eyed  him  for  a  moment  from  beneath  a  pair  of  anxious 
shagged  eyebrows. 

" '  I  am  told,  friend,  that  you  are  very  poor.' 

'"There  is  no  denying  the  fact,  senor —  it  speaks  for  it 
self.' 

"  '  I  presume  then,  that  you  will  be  glad  of  a  job,  and  will 
work  cheap.' 

" '  As  cheap,  my  master,  as  any  mason  in  Granada.' 

"  '  That's  what  I  want.  I  have  an  old  house  fallen  into 
decay,  which  costs  me  more  money  than  it  is  worth  to  keep 


84  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

it  in  repair,  for  nobody  will  live  in  it ;  so  I  must  contrive  to 
patch  it  up  and  keep  it  together  at  as  small  expense  as 
possible.' 

"  The  mason  was  accordingly  conducted  to  a  large  deserted 
house  that  seemed  going  to  ruin.  Passing  through  several 
empty  halls  and  chambers,  he  entered  an  inner  court,  where 
his  eye  was  caught  by  an  old  Moorish  fountain.  He  paused 
for  a  moment,  for  a  dreaming  recollection  of  the  place  came 
over  him. 

" '  Pray,'  said  he,  '  who  occupied  this  house  formerly  ?  ' 

" '  A  pest  upon  him  !  '  cried  the  landlord,  '  it  was  an  old 
miserly  priest,  who  cared  for  nobody  but  for  himself.  He 
was  said  to  be  immensely  rich,  and,  having  no  relations,  it 
was  thought  he  would  leave  all  his  treasures  to  the  church. 
He  died  suddenly,  and  the  priests  and  friars  thronged  to  take 
possession  of  his  wealth ;  but  nothing  could  they  find  but  a 
few  ducats  in  a  leathern  purse.  The  worst  luck  has  fallen  on 
me,  for,  since  his  death,  the  old  fellow  continues  to  occupy 
my  house  without  paying  rent,  and  there  is  no  taking  the  law 
of  a  dead  man.  The  people  pretend  to  hear  the  clinking  of 
gold  all  night  in  the  chamber  where  the  old  priest  slept,  as  if 
he  were  counting  over  his  money,  and  sometimes  a  groaning 
and  moaning  about  the  court.  Whether  true  or  false,  these 
stories  have  brought  a  bad  name  on  my  house,  and  not  a 
tenant  will  remain  in  it.' 

" '  Enough,'  said  the  mason  sturdily  :  '  let  me  live  in  your 
house  rent-free  until  some  better  tenant  present,  and  I  will 
engage  to  put  it  in  repair,  and  to  quiet  the  troubled  spirit  that 
disturbs  it.  I  am  a  good  Christian  and  a  poor  man,  and  am 
not  to  be  daunted  by  the  Devil  himself,  even  though  he  should 
come  in  the  shape  of  a  big  bag  of  money ! ' 

"  The  offer  of  the  honest  mason  was  gladly  accepted ;  he 
moved  with  his  family  into  the  house,  and  fulfilled  all  his 
engagements.  By  little  and  little  he  restored  it  to  its  former 
state  ;  the  clinking  of  gold  was  no  more  heard  at  night  in  the 
chamber  of  the  defunct  priest,  but  began  to  be  heard  by  day 
in  the  pocket  of  the  living  mason.  In  a  word,  he  increased 
rapidly  in  wealth,  to  the  admiration  of  all  his  neighbors,  and 
became  one  of  the  richest  men  in  Granada :  he  gave  large  sums 
to  the  church,  by  way,  no  doubt,  of  satisfying  his  conscience, 
and  never  revealed  the  secret  of  the  vault  until  on  his  death 
bed  to  his  son  and  heir." 


IN    THE    CO'JOT   OF    LIONS. 


THE  COURT  OF  LIONS.  85 


THE  COURT  OF  LION'S. 

THE  peculiar  charm  of  this  old  dreamy  palace,  is  its  power 
of  calling  up  vague  reveries  and  picturings  of  the  past,  and 
thus  clothing  naked  realities  with  the  illusions  of  the  memory 
and  the  imagination.  As  I  delight  to  walk  in  these  "vain 
shadows,"  I  am  prone  to  seek  those  parts  of  the  Alhambra 
which  are  most  favorable  to  this  phantasmagoria  of  the  mind ; 
and  none  are  more  so  than  the  Court  of  Lions,  and  its  sur 
rounding  halls.  Here  the  hand  of  time  has  fallen  the  lightest, 
and  the  traces  of  Moorish  elegance  and  splendor  exist  in 
almost  their  original  brilliancy.  Earthquakes  have  shaken 
the  foundations  of  this  pile,  and  rent  its  rudest  towers ;  yet 
see !  not  one  of  those  slender  columns  has  been  displaced,  not 
an  arch  of  that  light  and  fragile  colonnade  given  way,  and  all 
the  fairy  fretwork  of  these  domes,  apparently  as  unsubstantial 
as  the  crystal  fabrics  of  a  morning's  frost,  exist  after  the 
lapse  of  centuries,  almost  as  fresh  as  if  from  the  hand  of  the 
Moslem  artist.  I  write  in  the  midst  of  these  mementoes  of 
the  past,  in  the  fresh  hour  of  early  morning,  in  the  fated  Hall 
of  the  Abencerrages.  The  blood-stained  fountain,  the  legen 
dary  monument  of  their  massacre,  is  before  me  ;  the  lofty  jet 
almost  casts  its  dew  upon  my  paper.  How  difficult  to  recon 
cile  the  ancient  tale  of  violence  and  blood  with  the  gentle  and 
peaceful  scene  around !  Everything  here  appears  calculated 
to  inspire  kind  and  happy  feelings,  for  everything  is  delicate 
and  beautiful.  The  very  light  falls  tenderly  from  above, 
through  the  lantern  of  a  dome  tinted  and  wrought  as  if  by 
fairy  hands.  Through  the  ample  and  fretted  arch  of  the 
portal  I  behold  the  Court  of  Lions,  with  brilliant  sunshine 
gleaming  along  its  colonnades,  and  sparkling  in  its  fountains. 
The  lively  swallow  dives  into  the  court,  and,  rising  with  a 
surge,  darts  away  twittering  over  the  roofs ;  the  busy  bee  toils 
humming  among  the  flower  beds,  and  painted  butterflies  hover 
from  plant  to  plant,  and  flutter  up  and  sport  with  each  other 
in  the  sunny  air.  It  needs  but  a  slight  exertion  of  the  fancy 
to  picture  some  pensive  beauty  of  the  harem,  loitering  in  these 
secluded  haunts  of  Oriental  luxury. 

He,  however,  who  would  behold  this  scene  under  an  aspect 
more  in  unison  with  its  fortunes,  let  him  come  when  the 
shadows  of  evening  temper  the  brightness  of  the  court,  and 
throw  a  gloom  into  the  surrounding  halls.  Then  nothing  can 


86  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

be  more  serenely  melancholy,  or  more  in  harmony  with  the  tale 
of  departed  grandeur. 

At  such  times  I  am  apt  to  seek  the  Hall  of  Justice,  whose 
deep  shadowy  arcades  extend  across  the  upper  end  of  the  court. 
Here  was  performed,  in  presence  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella, 
and  their  triumphant  court,  the  pompous  ceremonial  of  high 
mass,  on  taking  possession  of  the  Alhambra.  The  very  cross 
is  still  to  be  seen  upon  the  wall,  where  the  altar  was  erected, 
and  where  officiated  the  Grand  Cardinal  of  Spain,  and  others  of 
the  highest  religious  dignitaries  of  the  land.  I  picture  to 
myself  the  scene  when  this  place  was  filled  with  the  conquer 
ing  host,  that  mixture  of  mitred  prelate  and  shaven  monk, 
and  steel-clad  knight  and  silken  courtier ;  when  crosses  and 
crosiers  and  religious  standards  were  mingled  with  proud 
armorial  ensigns  and  the  banners  of  the  haughty  chiefs  of 
Spain,  and  flaunted  in  triumph  through  these  Moslem  halls. 
I  picture  to  myself  Columbus,  the  future  discoverer  of  a  world, 
taking  his  modest  stand  in  a  remote  corner,  the  humble  and 
neglected  spectator  of  the  pageant.  I  see  in  imagination  the 
Catholic  sovereigns  prostrating  themselves  before  the  altar, 
and  pouring  forth  thanks  for  their  victory ;  while  the  vaults 
resound  with  sacred  minstrelsy,  and  the  deep-toned  Te  Deum. 

The  transient  illusion  is  over  —  the  pageant  melts  from  the 
fancy  —  monarch,  priest,  and  warrior,  return  into  oblivion, 
with  the  poor  Moslems  over  whom  they  exulted.  The  hall  of 
their  triumph  is  waste  and  desolate.  The  bat  flits  about  its 
twilight  vault,  and  the  owl  hoots  from  the  neighboring  tower 
of  Comares. 

Entering  the  Court  of  the  Lions  a  few  evenings  since,  I  was 
almost  startled  at  beholding  a  turbaned  Moor  quietly  seated 
near  the  fountain.  For  a  moment  one  of  the  fictions  of  the 
place  seemed  realized  :  an  enchanted  Moor  had  broken  the 
spell  of  centuries,  and  become  visible.  He  proved,  however, 
to  be  a  mere  ordinary  mortal ;  a  native  of  Tetuan  in  Barbary, 
who  had  a  shop  in  the  Zacatin  of  Granada,  where  he  sold  rhu 
barb,  trinkets,  and  perfumes.  As  he  spoke  Spanish  fluently, 
I  was  enabled  to  hold  conversation  with  him,  and  found  him 
shrewd  and  intelligent.  He  told  me  that  he  came  up  the  hill 
occasionally  in  the  summer,  to  pass  a  part  of  the  day  in  the 
Alhambra,  which  reminded  him  of  the  old  palaces  in  Barbary. 
being  built  and  adorned  in  similar  style,  though  with  more 
magnificence. 

As  we  walked  about  the  palace,  he  pointed  out  several  of 
the  Arabic  inscriptions,  as  possessing  much  poetic  beauty. 


THE  COURT  OF  LIONS.  87 

Ah,  senor,  said  he,  when  the  Moors  held  Granada,  they  were 
a  gayer  people  than  they  are  now-a-days.  They  thought  only 
of  love,  music,  and  poetry.  They  made  stanzas  upon  every 
occasion,  and  set  them  all  to  music.  He  who  could  make  the 
best  verses,  and  she  who  had  the  most  tuneful  voice,  might  be 
sure  of  favor  and  preferment.  In  those  days,  if  any  one  asked 
for  bread,  the  reply  was,  make  me  a  couplet ;  and  the  poorest 
beggar,  if  he  begged  in  rhyme,  would  often  be  rewarded  with 
a  piece  of  gold. 

"  And  is  the  popular  feeling  for  poetry,"  said  I,  "  entirely 
lost  among  you?" 

"  By  no  means,  senor ;  the  people  of  Barbary,  even  those 
of  the  lower  classes,  still  make  couplets,  and  good  ones  too, 
as  in  old  times ;  but  talent  is  not  rewarded  as  it  was  then  ; 
the  rich  prefer  the  jingle  of  their  gold  to  the  sound  of  poetry 
or  music." 

As  he  was  talking,  his  eye  caught  one  of  the  inscriptions 
which  foretold  perpetuity  to  the  power  and  glory  of  the  Mos 
lem  monarchs,  the  masters  of  this  pile.  He  shook  his  head, 
and  shrugged  his  shoulders,  as  he  interpreted  it.  "  Such 
might  have  been  the  case,"  said  he ;  "the  Moslems  might  still 
have  been  reigning  in  the  Alhambra,  had  not  Boabdil  been  a 
traitor,  and  given  up  his  capital  to  the  Christians.  The 
Spanish  monarchs  would  never  have  been  able  to  conquer  it 
by  open  force." 

I  endeavored  to  vindicate  the  memory  of  the  unlucky 
Boabdil  from  this  aspersion,  and  to  show  that  the  dissensions 
which  led  to  the  downfall  of  the  Moorish  throne,  originated 
in  the  cruelty  of  his  tiger-hearted  father  ;  but  the  Moor  would 
admit  of  no  palliation. 

"  Muley  Abul  Hassan,"  said  he,  "  might  have  been  cruel ; 
but  he  was  brave,  vigilant,  and  patriotic.  Had  he  been 
properly  seconded,  Granada  would  still  have  been  ours ;  but 
his  son  Boabdil  thwarted  his  plans,  crippled  his  power,  sowed 
treason  in  his  palace,  and  dissension  in  his  camp.  May  the 
curse  of  God  light  upon  him  for  his  treachery  ! "  With  these 
words  the  Moor  left  the  Alhambra. 

The  indignation  of  my  turbaned  companion  agrees  with  an 
anecdote  related  by  a  friend,  who,  in  the  course  of  a  tour  in 
Barbary,  had  an  interview  with  the  Pacha  of  Tetuan.  The 
Moorish  governor  was  particular  in  his  inquiries  about  Spain, 
and  especially  concerning  the  favored  region  of  Andalusia,  the 
delights  of  Granada,  and  the  remains  of  its  royal  palace.  The 
replies  awakened  all  those  fond  recollections,  so  deeply  cher- 


88  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

ished  by  the  Moors,  of  the  power  and  splendor  of  their  ancient 
empire  in  Spain.  Turning  to  his  Moslem  attendants,  the 
Pacha  stroked  his  beard,  and  broke  forth  in  passionate 
lamentations,  that  such  a  sceptre  should  have  fallen  from  the 
sway  of  true  believers.  He  consoled  himself,  however,  with 
the  persuasion,  that  the  power  and  prosperity  of  the  Spanish 
nation  were  on  the  decline ;  that  a  time  would  come  when 
the  Moors  would  reconquer  their  rightful  domains ;  and  that 
the  day  was  perhaps  not  far  distant,  when  Mohammedan 
worship  would  again  be  offered  up  in  the  Mosque  of  Cordova, 
and  a  Mohammedan  prince  sit  on  his  throne  in  the  Alhambra. 

Such  is  the  general  aspiration  and  belief  among  the  Moors  of 
Barbary  ;  who  consider  Spain,  or  Andaluz,  as  it  was  anciently 
called,  their  rightful  heritage,  of  which  they  have  been  de 
spoiled  by  treachery  and  violence.  These  ideas  are  fostered 
and  perpetuated  by  the  descendants  of  the  exiled  Moors  of 
Granada,  scattered  among  the  cities  of  Barbary.  Several  of 
these  reside  in  Tetuan,  preserving  their  ancient  names,  such 
as  Paez  and  Medina,  and  refraining  from  intermarriage  with 
any  families  who  cannot  claim  the  same  high  origin.  Their 
vaunted  lineage  is  regarded  with  a  degree  of  popular  deference, 
rarely  shown  in  Mohammedan  communities  to  any  hereditary 
distinction,  excepting  in  the  royal  line. 

These  families,  it  is  said,  continue  to  sigh  after  the  terres 
trial  paradise  of  their  ancestors,  and  to  put  up  prayers  in  their 
mosques  on  Fridays,  imploring  Allah  to  hasten  the  time  when 
Granada  shall  be  restored  to  the  faithful :  an  event  to  which 
they  look  forward  as  fondly  and  confidently  as  did  the  Chris 
tian  crusaders  to  the  recovery  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre.  Nay, 
it  is  added  that  some  of  them  retain  the  ancient  maps  and 
deeds  of  the  estates  and  gardens  of  their  ancestors  at  Granada, 
and  even  the  keys  of  the  houses ;  holding  them  as  evidences 
of  their  hereditary  claims,  to  be  produced  at  the  anticipated 
day  of  restoration. 

My  conversation  with  the  Moor  set  me  to  musing  on  the 
fate  of  Boabdil.  Never  was  surname  more  applicable  than 
that  bestowed  upon  him  by  his  subjects  of  el  Zogoybi,  or  the 
Unlucky.  His  misfortunes  began  almost  in  his  cradle,  and 
ceased  not  even  with  his  death.  If  ever  he  cherished  the 
desire  of  leaving  an  honorable  name  on  the  historic  page,  how 
cruelly  has  he  been  defrauded  of  his  hopes  !  Who  is  there 
that  has  turned  the  least  attention  to  the  romantic  history  of 
the  Moorish  domination  in  Spain,  without  kindling  with 
indignation  at  the  alleged  atrocities  of  Boabdil  ?  Who  has 


THE  COURT  OF  LIONS.  89 

not  been  touched  with  the  woes  of  his  lovely  and  gentle 
queen,  subjected  by  him  to  a  trial  of  life  and  death,  on  a  false 
charge  of  infidelity  ?  Who  has  not  been  shocked  by  his  alleged 
murder  of  his  sister  and  her  two  children,  in  a  transport  of 
passion  ?  Who  has  not  felt  his  blood  boil,  at  the  inhuman 
massacre  of  the  gallant  Abencerrages,  thirty-six  of  whom,  it 
is  affirmed,  he  ordered  to  be  beheaded  in  the  Court  of  Lions  ? 
All  these  charges  have  been  reiterated  in  various  forms ;  they 
have  passed  into  ballads,  dramas,  and  romances,  until  they 
have  taken  too  thorough  possession  of  the  public  mind  to  be 
eradicated.  There  is  not  a  foreigner  of  education  that  visits 
the  Alhambra,  but  asks  for  the  fountain  where  the  Abencer 
rages  were  beheaded;  and  gazes  with  horror  at  the  grated 
gallery  where  the  queen  is  said  to  have  been  confined ;  not  a 
peasant  of  the  Vega  or  the  Sierra,  but  sings  the  story  in  rude 
couplets,  to  the  accompaniment  of  his  guitar,  while  his  hearers 
learn  to  execrate  the  very  name  of  Boabdil. 

Never,  however,  was  name  more  foully  and  unjustly 
slandered.  I  have  examined  all  the  authentic  chronicles  and 
letters  written  by  Spanish  authors,  contemporary  with 
Boabdil ;  some  of  whom  were  in  the  confidence  of  the  Cath 
olic  sovereigns,  and  actually  present  in  the  camp  throughout 
the  war.  I  have  examined  all  the  Arabian  authorities  I  could 
get  access  to,  through  the  medium  of  translation,  and  have 
found  nothing  to  justify  these  dark  and  hateful  accusations. 
The  most  of  these  tales  may  be  traced  to  a  work  commonly 
called  "  The  Civil  Wars  of  Granada,"  containing  a  pretended 
history  of  the  feuds  of  the  Zegris  and  Abencerrages,  during 
the  last  struggle  of  the  Moorish  empire.  The  work  appeared 
originally  in  Spanish,  and  professed  to  be  translated  from  the 
Arabic  by  one  Gines  Perez  de  Hita,  an  inhabitant  of  Murcia. 
It  has  since  passed  into  various  languages,  and  Florian  has 
taken  from  it  much  of  the  fable  of  his  Gonsalvo  of  Cordova ; 
it  has  thus,  in  a  great  measure,  usurped  the  authority  of  real 
history,  and  is  currently  believed  by  the  people,  and  especially 
the  peasantry  of  Granada.  The  whole  of  it,  however,  is  a 
mass  of  fiction,  mingled  with  a  few  disfigured  truths,  which 
give  it  an  air  of  veracity.  It  bears  internal  evidence  of  its 
falsity  ;  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  Moors  being  extrava 
gantly  misrepresented  in  it,  and  scenes  depicted  totally  in 
compatible  with  their  habits  and  their  faith,  and  which  never 
could  have  been  recorded  by  a  Mahometan  writer. 

I  confess  there  seems  to  me  something  almost  criminal,  in 
the  wilful  perversions  of  this  work  :  great  latitude  is  undoubt- 


90  THE  ALHAMIiRA. 

edly  to  be  allowed  to  romantic  fiction,  but  there  are  limits 
which  it  must  not  pass  ;  and  the  names  of  the  distinguished 
dead,  which  belong  to  history,  are  no  more  to  be  calumniated 
than  those  of  the  illustrious  living.  One  would  have  thought, 
too,  that  the  unfortunate  Boabdil  had  suffered  enough  for  his 
justifiable  hostility  to  the  Spaniards,  by  being  stripped  of  his 
kingdom,  without  having  his  name  thus  wantonly  traduced, 
and  rendered  a  by-word  and  a  theme  of  infamy  in  his  native 
land,  and  in  the  very  mansion  of  his  fathers ! 

If  the  reader  is  sufficiently  interested  in  these  questions  to 
tolerate  a  little  historical  detail,  the  following  facts,  gleaned 
from  what  appear  to  be  authentic  sources,  and  tracing  the  for 
tunes  of  the  Abencerrages,  may  serve  to  exculpate  the  unfor 
tunate  Boabdil  from  the  perfidious  massacre  of  that  illustrious 
line  so  shamelessly  charged  to  him.  It  will  also  serve  to 
throw  a  proper  light  upon  the  alleged  accusation  and  imprison 
ment  of  his  queen. 


THE   ABENCERKAGES. 

A  GRAND  line  of  distinction  existed  among  the  Moslems  of 
Spain,  between  those  of  Oriental  origin  and  those  from  West 
ern  Africa.  Among  the  former  the  Arabs  considered  them 
selves  the  purest  race,  as  being  descended  from  the  countrymen 
of  the  Prophet,  who  first  raised  the  standard  of  Islam ;  among 
the  latter,  the  most  warlike  and  powerful  were  the  Berber 
tribes  from  Mount  Atlas  and  the  deserts  of  Sahara,  commonly 
known  as  Moors,  who  subdued  the  tribes  of  the  seacoast, 
founded  the  city  of  Morocco,  and  for  a  long  time  disputed 
with  the  Oriental  races  the  control  of  Moslem  Spain. 

Among  the  Oriental  races  the  Abencerrages  held  a  distin 
guished  rank,  priding  themselves  on  a  pure  Arab  descent  from 
the  Beni  Seraj,  one  of  the  tribes  who  were  Ansares  or  Com 
panions  of  the  Prophet.  The  Abencerrages  flourished  for  a 
time  at  Cordova  ;  but  probably  repaired  to  Granada  after  the 
downfall  of  the  Western  Caliphat;  it  was  there  they  attained 
their  historical  and  romantic  celebrity,  being  foremost  among 
the  splendid  chivalry  which  graced  the  court  of  the  Alhambra. 

Their  highest  and  most  dangerous  prosperity  was  during 
the  precarious  reign  of  Muhamed  Nasar,  surnamed  El  Hay- 
zari,  or  the  Left-handed.  That  ill-starred  monarch,  when  he 
ascended  the  throne  in  1423,  lavished  his  favors  upon  this 


THE  ABENCERRAGES.  91 

gallant  line,  making  the  head  of  the  tribe,  Jusef  Aben  Zeragh, 
his  vizier,  or  prime  minister,  and  advancing  his  relatives  and 
friends  to  the  most  distinguished  posts  about  the  court.  This 
gave  great  offence  to  other  tribes,  and  caused  intrigues  among 
their  chiefs.  Muhamed  lost  popularity  also  by  his  manners. 
He  was  vain,  inconsiderate  and  haughty  ;  disdained  to  mingle 
among  his  subjects  ;  forbade  those  jousts  and  tournaments, 
the  delight  of  high  and  low,  and  passed  his  time  in  the  luxu 
rious  retirement  of  the  Alhambra.  The  consequence  was  a 
popular  insurrection ;  the  palace  was  stormed ;  the  king  es 
caped  through  the  gardens ;  fled  to  the  seacoast,  crossed  in 
disguise  to  Africa,  and  took  refuge  with  his  kinsman,  the  sov 
ereign  of  Tunis. 

Muhamed  el  Zaguer,  cousin  of  the  fugitive  monarch,  took 
possession  of  the  vacant  throne.  He  pursued  a  different  course 
from  his  predecessor.  He  not  only  gave  fetes  and  tourneys, 
but  entered  the  lists  himself,  in  grand  and  sumptuous  array ; 
he  distinguished  himself  in  managing  his  horse,  in  tilting,  rid 
ing  at  the  ring,  and  other  chivalrous  exercises  ;  feasted  with 
his  cavaliers,  and  made  them  magnificent  presents. 

Those  who  had  been  in  favor  with  his  predecessor,  now 
experienced  a  reverse  ;  he  manifested  such  hostility  to  them 
that  more  than  five  hundred  of  the  principal  cavaliers  left  the 
city.  Jusef  Aben  Zeragh,  with  forty  of  the  Abencerrages, 
abandoned  Granada  in  the  night,  and  sought  the  court  of  Juan 
the  king  of  Castile.  Moved  by  their  representations,  that 
young  and  generous  monarch  wrote  letters  to  the  sovereign  of 
Tunis,  inviting  him  to  assist  in  punishing  the  usurper  and 
restoring  the  exiled  king  to  his  throne.  The  faithful  and  in 
defatigable  vizier  accompanied  the  bearer  of  these  letters  to 
Tunis,  where  he  rejoined  his  exiled  sovereign.  The  letters 
were  successful.  Muhamed  el  Hayzari  landed  in  Andalusia 
with  five  hundred  African  horse,  and  was  joined  by  the  Aben 
cerrages  and  others  of  his  adherents  and  by  his  Christian 
allies ;  wherever  he  appeared  the  people  submitted  to  him ; 
troops  sent  against  him  deserted  to  his  standard ;  Granada  was 
recovered  without  a  blow;  the  usurper  retreated  to  the  Al 
hambra,  but  was  beheaded  by  his  own  soldiers  (1428),  after 
reigning  between  two  and  three  years. 

El  Hayzari,  once  more  on  the  throne,  heaped  honors  on  the 
loyal  vizier,  through  whose  faithful  services  he  had  been  re 
stored,  and  once  more  the  line  of  the  Abencerrages  basked  in 
the  sunshine  of  royal  favor.  El  Hayzari  sent  ambassadors  to 
King  Juan,  thanking  him  for  his  aid,  and  proposing  a  per- 


92  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

petual  league  of  amity.  The  king  of  Castile  required  homage 
and  yearly  tribute.  These  the  left-handed  monarch  refused, 
supposing  the  youthful  king  too  much  engaged  in  civil  war  to 
enforce  his  claims.  Again  the  kingdom  of  Granada  was  har 
assed  by  invasions,  and  its  Vega  laid  waste.  Various  battles 
took  place  with  various  success.  But  El  Hayzari's  greatest 
danger  was  near  at  home.  There  was  at  that  time  in  Granada 
a  cavalier,  Don  Pedro  Venegas  by  name,  a  Moslem  by  faith, 
but  Christian  by  descent,  whose  early  history  borders  on  ro 
mance.  He  was  of  the  noble  house  of  Luque,  but  captured 
when  a  child,  eight  years  of  age,  by  Cid  Yahia  Alnayar,  prince 
of  Almeria,1  who  adopted  him  as  his  son,  educated  him  in 
the  Moslem  faith,  and  brought  him  up  among  his  children,  the 
Cetimerian  princes,  a  proud  family,  descended  in  direct  line 
from  Aben  Hud,  one  of  the  early  Granadian  kings.  A  mutual 
attachment  sprang  up  between  Don  Pedro  and  the  princess 
Cetimerien,  a  daughter  of  Cid  Yahia,  famous  for  her  beauty, 
and  whose  name  is  perpetuated  by  the  ruins  of  her  palace  in 
Granada,  still  bearing  traces  of  Moorish  elegance  and  luxury. 
In  process  of  time  they  were  married  ;  and  thus  a  scion  of  the 
Spanish  house  of  Luque  became  ingrafted  on  the  royal  stock 
of  Aben  Hud. 

Such  is  the  early  story  of  Don  Pedro  Venegas,  who  at  the 
time  of  which  we  treat  was  a  man  mature  in  years,  and  of  an 
active,  ambitious  spirit.  He  appears  to  have  been  the  soul  of 
a  conspiracy  set  on  foot  about  this  time,  to  topple  Muhamed 
the  Left-handed  from  his  unsteady  throne,  and  elevate  in  his 
place  Yusef  Aben  Alhamar,  the  eldest  of  the  Celtimerian 
princes.  The  aid  of  the  king  of  Castile  was  to  be  secured,  and 
Don  Pedro  proceeded  on  a  secret  embassy  to  Cordova  for  the 
purpose.  He  informed  King  Juan  of  the  extent  of  the  con 
spiracy  ;  that  Yusef  Aben  Alhamar  could  bring  a  large  force 
to  his  standard  as  soon  as  he  should  appear  in  the  Vega,  and 
would  acknowledge  himself  his  vassal,  if  with  his  aid  he 
should  attain  the  crown.  The  aid  was  promised,  and  Don 
Pedro  hastened  back  to  Granada  with  the  tidings.  The  con 
spirators  now  left  the  city,  a  few  at  a  time,  under  various  pre 
texts  ;  and  when  King  Juan  passed  the  frontier,  Yusef  Aben 
Alhamar  brought  eight  thousand  men  to  his  standard  and 
kissed  his  hand  in  token  of  allegiance. 

It  is  needless  to  recount  the  various  battles  by  which  the 
kingdom  was  desolated,  'and  the  various  intrigues  by  which 

1  ALCANTARA ,  Hist.  GrantuL,  C.  3,  p.  ?X,  note 


HALL   OF  THE    ABENCERRAGES 


THE  ABENCERRAGES.  93 

one  half  of  it  was  roused  to  rebellion.  The  Abencerrages 
stood  by  the  failing  fortunes  of  Muhamed  throughout  the 
struggle ;  their  last  stand  was  at  Loxa,  where  their  chief,  the 
vizier  Yusef  Aben  Zeragh,  fell  bravely  fighting,  and  many  of 
their  noblest  cavaliers  were  slain :  in  fact,  in  that  disastrous 
war  the  fortunes  of  the  family  were  nearly  wrecked. 

Again,  the  ill-starred  Muhamed  was  driven  from  his  throne, 
and  took  refuge  in  Malaga,  the  alcayde  of  which  still  remained 
true  to  him. 

Yusef  Aben  Alhamar,  commonly  known  as  Yusef  II.,  en 
tered  Granada  in  triumph  on  the  first  of  January,  1432,  but 
he  found  it  a  melancholy  city,  where  half  of  the  inhabitants 
were  in  mourning.  Not  a  noble  family  but  had  lost  some 
member ;  and  in  the  slaughter  of  the  Abencerrages  at  Loxa, 
had  fallen  some  of  the  brightest  of  the  chivalry. 

The  royal  pageant  passed  through  silent  streets,  and  the 
barren  homage  of  a  court  in  the  halls  of  the  Alhambra  ill  sup 
plied  the  want  of  sincere  and  popular  devotion.  Yusef  Aben 
Alhamar  felt  the  insecurity  of  his  position.  The  deposed 
monarch  was  at  hand  in  Malaga;  the  sovereign  of  Tunis 
espoused  his  cause,  and  pleaded  with  the  Christian  monarchs 
in  his  favor;  above  all,  Yusef  felt  his  own  unpopularity  in 
Granada;  previous  fatigues  had  impaired  his  health,  a  pro 
found  melancholy  settled  upon  him,  and  in  the  course  of  six 
months  he  sank  into  the  grave. 

At  the  news  of  his  death,  Muhamed  the  Left-handed 
hastened  from  Malaga,  and  again  was  placed  on  the  throne. 
From  the  wrecks  of  the  Abencerrages  he  chose  as  vizier  Ab- 
delbar,  one  of  the  worthiest  of  that  magnanimous  line. 
Through  his  advice  he  restrained  his  vindictive  feelings  and 
adopted  a  conciliatory  policy.  He  pardoned  most  of  his  ene 
mies.  Yusef,  the  defunct  usurper,  had  left  three  children. 
His  estates  were  apportioned  among  them.  Aben  Celim,  the 
oldest  son,  was  confirmed  in  the  title  of  Prince  of  Almeria 
and  Lord  of  Marchena  in  the  Alpuxarras.  Ahmed,  the  young 
est,  was  made  Sefior  of  Luchar;  and  Equivila,  the  daughter, 
received  rich  patrimonial  lands  in  the  fertile  Vega,  and  various 
houses  and  shops  in  the  Zacatin  of  Granada.  The  vizier  Ab- 
delbar  counselled  the  king,  moreover,  to  secure  the  adherence 
of  the  family  by  matrimonial  connections.  An  aunt  of 
Muhamed  was  accordingly  given  in  marriage  to  Aben  Celim. 
while  the  prince  Nasar,  younger  brother  of  the  deceased 
usurper,  received  the  hand  of  the  beautiful  Lindaraxa,  daugh 
ter  of  Muhamed's  faithful  adherent,  the  alcayde  of  Malaga. 


94  THE  ALHAMBEA. 

This  was  the  Lindaraxa  whose  name  still  designates  one  of 
the  gardens  of  the  Alhambra. 

Don  Pedro  de  Venegas  alone,  the  husband  of  the  princess 
Cetimerien,  received  no  favor.  He  was  considered  as  having 
produced  the  late  troubles  by  his  intrigues.  The  Abencerrages 
charged  him  with  the  reverses  of  their  family  and  the  deaths 
of  so  many  of  their  bravest  cavaliers.  The  king  never  spoke 
of  him  but  by  the  opprobrious  appellation  of  the  Tornadizo, 
or  Renegade.  Finding  himself  in  danger  of  arrest  and  punish 
ment,  he  took  leave  of  his  wife,  the  princess,  his  two  sons, 
Abul  Cacim  and  Reduan,  and  his  daughter,  Cetimerien,  and 
fled  to  Jaen.  There,  like  his  brother-in-law,  the  usurper,  he 
expiated  his  intrigues  and  irregular  ambition  by  profound 
humiliation  and  melancholy,  and  died  in  1434  a  penitent, 
because  a  disappointed  man.1 

Muhamed  el  Hayzari  was  doomed  to  further  reverses.  He 
had  two  nephews,  Aben  Osmyn,  surnamed  el  Anaf,  or  the 
Lame,  and  Aben  Ismael.  The  former,  who  was  of  an  ambi 
tious  spirit,  resided  in  Almeria ;  the  latter  in  Granada,  where 
he  had  many  friends.  He  was  on  the  point  of  espousing  a 
beautiful  girl,  when  his  royal  uncle  interfered  and  gave  her  to 
one  of  his  favorites.  Enraged  at  this  despotic  act,  the  prince 
Aben  Ismael  took  horse  and  weapons  and  sallied  from  Granada 
for  the  frontier,  followed  by  numerous  cavaliers.  The  affair 
gave  general  disgust,  especially  to  the  Abencerrages  Avho  were 
attached  to  the  prince.  No  sooner  did  tidings  reach  Aben 
Osmyn  of  the  public  discontent  than  his  ambition  was  aroused. 
Throwing  himself  suddenly  into  Granada,  he  raised  a  popular 
tumult,  surprised  his  uncle  in  the  Alhambra,  compelled  him 
to  abdicate,  and  proclaimed  himself  king.  This  occurred  in 
September,  1445.  The  Abencerrages  now  gave  up  the  fortunes 
of  the  left-handed  king  as  hopeless,  and  himself  as  incompe 
tent  to  rule.  Led  by  their  kinsman,  the  vizier  Abdelbar,  and 
accompanied  by  many  other  cavaliers,  they  abandoned  the 
court  and  took  post  in  Montefrio.  Thence  Abdelbar  wrote  to 
Prince  Aben  Ismael.  who  had  taken  refuge  in  Castile,  inviting 
him  to  the  camp,  offering  to  support  his  pretensions  to  the 
throne,  and  advising  him  to  leave  Castile  secretly,  lest  his 
departure  should  be  opposed  by  King  Juan  II.  The  prince, 
however,  confiding  in  the  generosity  of  the  Castilian  monarch, 
told  him  frankly  the  whole  matter.  He  was  not  mistaken. 


1  SAI>AZORY  CASTRA,  Hist.  Genealog.  dela  Casa  de  Lara,  lib.  v.,  c.  12,  cited  bj 
Alcantara  in  his  Hist.  Granad. 


THE  ABENC  ERR  AGES.  95 

King  Juan  not  merely  gave  him  permission  to  depart,  but 
promised  him  aid,  and  gave  him  letters  to  that  effect  to  his 
commanders  on  the  frontiers.  Aben  Ismael  departed  with  a 
brilliant  escort,  arrived  in  safety  at  Montefrio,  and  was  pro 
claimed  king  of  Granada  by  Abdelbar  and  his  partisans,  the 
most  important  of  whom  were  the  Abeneerrages.  A  long 
course  of  civil  wars  ensued  between  the  two  cousins,  rivals  for 
the  throne.  Abeu  Osmyn  was  aided  by  the  kings  of  Navarre 
and  Aragon,  while  Juan  II.,  at  war  with  his  rebellious  sub 
jects,  could  give  little  assistance  to  Aben  Ismael. 

Thus  for  several  years  the  country  was  torn  by  internal 
strife  and  desolated  by  foreign  inroads,  so  that  scarce  a  field 
but  was  stained  Avith  blood.  Aben  Osmyn  was  brave,  and 
often  signalized  himself  in  arms;  but  he  was  cruel  and 
despotic,  and  ruled  with  an  iron  hand.  He  offended  the 
nobles  by  his  caprices,  and  the  populace  by  his  tyranny,  while 
his  rival  cousin  conciliated  all  hearts  by  his  benignity.  Hence 
there  were  continual  desertions  from  Granada  to  the  fortified 
camp  at  Montefrio,  and  the  party  of  Aben  Ismael  was  con 
stantly  gaining  strength.  At  length  the  king  of  Castile, 
having  made  peace  with  the  kings  of  Aragon  and  Navarre, 
was  enabled  to  send  a  choice  body  of  troops  to  the  assistance 
of  Aben  Ismael.  The  latter  now  left  his  trenches  in  Monte 
frio,  and  took  the  field.  The  combined  forces  marched  upon 
Granada.  Aben  Osmyn  sallied  forth  to  the  encounter.  A 
bloody  battle  ensued,  in  which  both  of  the  rival  cousins  fought 
with  heroic  valor.  Aben  Osmyn  was  defeated  and  driven 
back  to  his  gates.  He  summoned  the  inhabitants  to  arms,  but 
few  answered  to  his  call ;  his  cruelty  had  alienated  all  hearts. 
Seeing  hie  fortunes  at  an  end,  he  determined  to  close  his 
career  by  a  signal  act  of  vengeance.  Shutting  himself  up  in 
the  Alhambra,  he  summoned  thither  a  number  of  the  prin 
cipal  cavaliers  whom  he  suspected  of  disloyalty.  As  they 
entered,  they  were  one  by  one  put  to  death.  This  is  supposed 
by  some  to  be  the  massacre  which  gave  its  fatal  name  to  the 
hall  of  the  Abeneerrages.  Having  perpetrated  this  atrocious 
act  of  vengeance,  and  hearing  by  the  shouts  of  the  populace 
that  Aben  Ismael  was  already  proclaimed  king  in  the  city,  he 
escaped  with  his  satellites  by  the  Cerro  del  Sol  and  the  valley 
of  the  Darro  to  the  Alpuxarra  mountains ;  where  he  and  his 
followers  led  a  kind  of  robber  life,  laying  villages  and  roads 
under  contribution. 

Aben  Ismael  II.,  who  thus  attained  the  throne  in  1454, 
secured  the  friendship  of  King  Juan  II.  by  acts  of  homage  and 


96  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

magnificent  presents.  He  gave  liberal  rewards  to  those  who 
had  been  faithful  to  him,  and  consoled  the  families  of  those 
who  had  fallen  in  his  cause.  During  his  reign,  the  Aben- 
cerrages  were  again  among  the  most  favored  of  the  brilliant 
chivalry  that  graced  his  court.  Aben  Ismael,  however,  was 
not  of  a  warlike  spirit ;  his  reign  was  distinguished  rather  by 
works  of  public  utility,  the  ruins  of  some  of  which  are  still 
to  be  seen  on  the  Cerro  del  Sol. 

In  the  same  year  of  1154  Juan  II.  died,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Henry  IV.  of  Castile,  surnamed  the  Impotent.  Aben 
Ismael  neglected  to  renew  the  league  of  amity  with  him 
which  had  existed  with  his  predecessor,  as  he  found  it  to  be 
unpopular  with  the  people  of  Granada.  King  Henry  resented 
the  omission,  and,  under  pretext  of  arrears  of  tribute,  made 
repeated  forays  into  the  kingdom  of  Granada.  He  gave 
countenance  also  to  Aben  Osrnyn  and  his  robber  hordes,  and 
took  some  of  them  into  pay ;  but  his  proud  cavaliers  refused 
to  associate  with  infidel  outlaws,  and  determined  to  seize 
Aben  Osniyn  ;  who,  however,  made  his  escape,  first  to  Seville, 
and  thence  to  Castile. 

In  the  year  1456,  on  the  occasion  of  a  great  foray  into  the 
Vega  by  the  Christians,  Aben  Ismael,  to  secure  a  peace,  agreed 
to  pay  the  king  of  Castile  a  certain  tribute  annually,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  liberate  six  hundred  Ghristian  captives ;  or, 
should  the  number  of  captives  fall  short,  to  make  it  up  in 
Moorish  hostages.  Aben  Ismael  fulfilled  the  rigorous  terms 
of  the  treaty,  and  reigned  for  a  number  of  years  with  more 
tranquillity  than  usually  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  monarchs  of 
that  belligerent  kingdom.  Granada  enjoyed  a  great  state  of 
prosperity  during  his  reign,  and  was  the  seat  of  festivity  and 
splendor.  His  sultana  was  a  daughter  of  Cid  Hiaya  Abraham 
Alnayar,  prince  of  Almeria;  and  he  had  by  her  two  sons, 
Abul  Hassan,  and  Abi  Abdallah  surnamed  El  Zagal,  the  father 
and  uncle  of  Boabdil.  We  approach  now  the  eventful  period 
signalized  by  the  conquest  of  Granada. 

Muley  Abul  Hassan  succeeded  to  the  throne  on  the  death 
of  his  father  in  1465.  One  of  his  first  acts  was  to  refuse 
payment  of  the  degrading  tribute  exacted  by  the  Castilian 
monarch.  His  refusal  was  one  of  the  causes  of  the  subse 
quent  disastrous  war.  I  confine  myself,  however,  to  facts 
connected  with  the  fortunes  of  the  Abencerrages  and  the 
charges  advanced  against  Boabdil. 

The  reader  will  recollect  that  Don  Pedro  Venegas,  sur 
named  El  Tornadizo,  when  he  fled  from  Granada  in  1433,  left 


THE  ABENCERRAGES.  97 

behind  him  two  sons,  Abul  Cacim  and  Reduan,  and  a  daughter, 
Cetimerien.  They  always  enjoyed  a  distinguished  rank  in 
Granada,  from  their  royal  descent  by  the  mother's  side ;  and 
from  being  connected,  through  the  princes  of  Almeria,  with 
the  last  and  the  present  king.  The  sons  had  distinguished 
themselves  by  their  talents  and  bravery,  and  the  daughter 
Cetimerien  was  married  to  Cid  Hiaya,  grandson  of  King  Jusef 
and  brother-in-law  of  El  Zagal.  Thus  powerfully  connected, 
it  is  not  surprising  to  find  Abul  Cacim  Venegas  advanced  to 
the  post  of  Vizier  of  Muley  Abul  Hassan,  and  Reduan  Vene 
gas  one  of  his  most  favored  generals.  Their  rise  was  re 
garded  with  an  evil  eye  by  the  Abencerrages,  who  remembered 
the  disasters  brought  upon  their  family,  and  the  deaths  of  so 
many  of  their  line,  in  the  war  fomented  by  the  intrigues  of 
Don  Pedro,  in  the  days  of  Jusef  Aben  Alhamar.  A  feud  had 
existed  ever  since  between  the  Abencerrages  and  the  house  of 
Venegas.  It  was  soon  to  be  aggravated  by  a  formidable 
schism  which  took  place  in  the  royal  harem. 

Muley  Abul  Hassan,  in  his  youthful  days,  had  married  his 
cousin,  the  princess  Ayxa  la  Horra,  daughter  of  his  uncle, 
the  ill-starred  sultan,  Muhamed  the  Left-handed ;  *  by  her  he 
had  two  sons,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  Boabdil,  heir  presump 
tive  to  the  throne.  Unfortunately  at  an  advanced  age  he 
took  another  wife,  Isabella  de  Solis,  a  young  and  beautiful 
Christian  captive  ;  better  known  by  her  Moorish  appellation 
of  Zoraya ;  by  her  he  had  also  two  sons.  Two  factions  were 
produced  in  the  palace  by  the  rivalry  of  the  sultanas,  who 
were  each  anxious  to  secure  for  their  children  the  succession 
to  the  throne.  Zoraya  was  supported  by  the  vizier  Abul 
Cacim  Venegas,  his  brother  Reduan  Venegas,  and  their 
numerous  connections,  partly  through  sympathy  with  her  as 
being,  like  themselves,  of  Christian  lineage,  and  partly  be 
cause  they  saw  she  was  the  favorite  of  the  doting  monarch. 

The  Abencerrages,  on  the  contrary,  rallied  round  the  sultana 
Ayxa;  partly  through  hereditary  opposition  to  the  family  of 
Venegas,  but  chiefly,  no  doubt,  through  a  strong  feeling  of 
loyalty  to  her  as  daughter  of  Muhamed  El  Hayzari,  the  ancient 
benefactor  of  their  line. 

The  dissensions  of  the  palace  went  on  increasing.  Intrigues 
of  all  kinds  took  place,  as  is  usual  in  royal  palaces.  Sus 
picions  were  artfully  instilled  in  the  mind  of  Muley  Abul 
Hassan  that  Ayxa  was  engaged  in  a  plot  to  depose  him  and 

»  AL  MAKKARI,  B.  viH.  c.  7. 


98  THE  ALBAMKRA. 

put  her  son  Boabdil  on  the  throne.  In  his  first  transports  of 
rage  he  confined  them  both  in  the  tower  of  Comares,  threaten 
ing  the  life  of  Boabdil.  At  dead  of  night  the  anxious  mother 
lowered  her  son  from  a  window  of  the  tower  by  the  scarfs  of 
herself  and  her  female  attendants  ;  and  some  of  her  adherents, 
who  were  in  waiting  with  swift  horses,  bore  him  away  to  the 
Alpuxarras.  It  is  this  imprisonment  of  the  Sultana  Ayxa 
which  possibly  gave  rise  to  the  fable  of  the  queen  of  Boabdil 
being  confined  by  him  in  a  tower  to  be  tried  for  her  life.  No 
other  shadow  of  a  ground  exists  for  it,  and  here  we  find  the 
tyrant  jailer  was  his  father,  and  the  captive  sultana,  his 
mother. 

The  massacre  of  the  Abencerrages  in  the  halls  of  the  Alham- 
bra,  is  placed  by  some  about  this  time,  and  attributed  also  to 
Muley  Abul  Hassan,  on  suspicion  of  their  being  concerned  in 
the  conspiracy.  The  sacrifice  of  a  number  of  the  cavaliers 
of  that  line  is  said  to  have  been  suggested  by  the  vizier  Abul 
Cacim  Venegas,  as  a  means  of  striking  terror  into  the  rest.1 
If  such  were  really  the  case,  the  barbarous  measure  proved 
abortive.  The  Abencerrages  continued  intrepid,  as  they  were 
loyal,  in  their  adherence  to  the  cause  of  Ayxa  and  her  son 
>Boabdil,  throughout  the  war  which  ensued,  while  the  Venegas 
were  ever  foremost  in  the  ranks  of  Muley  Abul  Hassan  and 
El  Zagal.  The  ultimate  fortunes  of  these  rival  families  is 
worthy  of  note.  The  Venegas,  in  the  last  struggle  of  Granada, 
were  among  those  who  submitted  to  the  conquerors,  renounced 
the  Moslem  creed,  returned  to  the  faith  from  which  their  an- 
cestor  had  apostatized,  were  rewarded  with  offices  and  estates, 
intermarried  with  Spanish  families,  and  have  left  posterity 
among  the  nobles  of  the  land.  The  Abencerrages  remained 
true  to  their  faith,  true  to  their  king,  true  to  their  desperate 
cause,  and  went  down  with  the  foundering  wreck  of  Moslem 
domination,  leaving  nothing  behind  them  but  a  gallant  and 
romantic  name  in  history. 

In  this  historical  outline,  I  trust  I  have  shown  enough  to 
put  the  fable  concerning  Boabdil  and  the  Abencerrages  in  a 
true  light.  The  story  of  the  accusation  of  his  queen,  and  his 
cruelty  to  his  sister,  are  equally  void  of  foundation.  In  his 
domestic  relations  he  appears  to  have  been  kind  and  affection 
ate.  History  gives  him  but  one  wife,  Morayma,  the  daughter 
of  the  veteran  alcayde  of  Loxa,  old  Aliatar,  famous  in  song 
and  story  for  his  exploits  in  border  warfare  ;  and  who  fell  in 

1  ALCANTARA,  Hist.  Granad.,  c.  17.    See  also   Ai,  MAKKARI,   Hist.  Mohama 
Dynasties,  B.  viii.  c.  7,  with  the  Commentaries  of  Dou  1'uscuul  de  u  uvaugos. 


MEMENTOS  OF  BOABDIL.  99 

that  disastrous  foray  into  the  Christian  lands  in  which  Boab- 
dil  was  taken  prisoner.  Morayma  was  true  to  Boabdil  through 
out  all  his  vicissitudes.  When  he  was  dethroned  by  the 
Castilian  monarchs,  she  retired  with  him  to  the  petty  domain 
allotted  him  in  the  valleys  of  the  Alpuxarras.  It  was  only 
when  (dispossessed  of  this  by  the  jealous  precautions  and 
subtle  chicanery  of  Ferdinand,  and  elbowed,  as  it  were,  out 
of  his  native  land),  he  was  preparing  to  embark  for  Africa, 
that  her  health  and  spirits,  exhausted  by  anxiety  and  long 
suffering,  gave  way,  and  she  fell  into  a  lingering  illness, 
aggravated  by  corroding  melancholy.  Boabdil  was  constant 
and  affectionate  to  her  to  the  last ;  the  sailing  of  the  ships 
was  delayed  for  several  weeks,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  the 
suspicious  Ferdinand.  At  length  Morayma  sank  into  the 
grave,  evidently  the  victim  of  a  broken  heart,  and  the  event 
was  reported  to  Ferdinand  by  his  agent,  as  one  propitious  to 
his  purposes,  removing  the  only  obstacle  to  the  embarkation 
of  Boabdil.1 


MEMENTOS  OF  BOABDIL. 

WHILE  my  mind  was  still  warm  with  the  subject  of  the  un 
fortunate  Boabdil,  I  set  forth  to  trace  the  mementos  of  him 
still  existing  in  this  scene  of  his  sovereignty  and  misfortunes. 
In  the  Tower  of  Comares,  immediately  under  the  Hall  of 
Ambassadors,  are  two  vaulted  rooms,  separated  by  a  narrow 
passage  ;  these  are  said  to  have  been  the  prisons  of  himself 
and  his  mother,  the  virtuous  Ayxa  la  Horra ;  indeed,  no  other 
part  of  the  tower  would  have  served  for  the  purpose.  The 
external  walls  of  these  chambers  are  of  prodigious  thickness, 
pierced  with  small  windows  secured  by  iron  bars.  A  narrow 
stone  gallery,  with  a  low  parapet,  extends  along  three  sides  of 
the  tower  just  below  the  windows,  but  at  a  considerable  height 
from  the  ground.  From  this  gallery,  it  is  presumed,  the  queen 
lowered  her  son  with  the  scarfs  of  herself  and  her  female 
attendants  during  the  darkness  of  the  night  to  the  hill-side, 
where  some  of  his  faithful  adherents  waited  with  fleet  steeds 
to  bear  him  to  the  mountains. 

Between  three  and  four  hundred  years  have  elapsed,  yet 
this  scene  of  the  drama  remains  almost  unchanged.  As  I 

1  For  authorities  for  these  latter  facts,  see  the  Appendix  to  the  author's  revised 
edition  of  the  Conquest  of  Granada. 


100  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

paced  the  gallery,  my  imagination  pictured  the  anxious  queen 
leaning  over  the  parapet ;  listening,  with  the  throbbings  of  a 
mother's  heart,  to  the  last  echoes  of  the  horses'  hoofs  as  her 
son  scoured  along  the  narrow  valley  of  the  Darro. 

I  next  sought  the  gate  by  which  Boabdil  made  his  last  exit 
from  the  Alhambra,  when  about  to  surrender  his  capital  and 
kingdom.  With  the  melancholy  caprice  of  a  broken  spirit,  or 
perhaps  with  some  superstitious  feeling,  he  requested  of  the 
Catholic  monarchs  that  no  one  afterwards  might  be  permitted 
to  pass  through  it.  His  prayer,  according  to  ancient  chron 
icles,  was  complied  with,  through  the  sympathy  of  Isabella, 
and  the  gate  was  walled  up.1 

I  inquired  for  some  time  in  vain  for  such  a  portal ;  at  length 
my  humble  attendant,  Mateo  Ximenes,  said  it  must  be  one 
closed  up  with  stones,  which,  according  to  what  he  had  heard 
from  his  father  and  grandfather,  was  the  gateway  by  which 
King  Chico  had  left  the  fortress.  There  was  a  mystery  about 
it,  and  it  had  never  been  opened  within  the  memory  of  the 
oldest  inhabitant. 

He  conducted  me  to  the  spot.  The  gateway  is  in  the  cen 
tre  of  what  was  once  an  immense  pile,  called  the  Tower  of  the 
Seven  Floors  (la  Torre  de  los  siete  suelos).  It  is  famous  in  the 
neighborhood  as  the  scene  of  strange  apparitions  and  Moorish 
enchantments.  According  to  Swinburne  the  traveller,  it  was 
originally  the  great  gate  of  entrance.  The  antiquaries  of  Gra 
nada  pronounce  it  the  entrance  to  that  quarter  of  the  royal 
residence  where  the  king's  body-guards  were  stationed.  It 
therefore  might  well  form  an  immediate  entrance  and  exit  to 
the  palace;  while  the  grand  Gate  of  Justice  served  as  the 
entrance  of  state  to  the  foi'tress.  When  Boabdil  sallied  by 
this  gate  to  descend  to  the  Vega,  where  he  was  to  surrender 
the  keys  of  the  city  to  the  Spanish  sovereigns,  he  left  his 
vizier  Aben  Comixa  to  receive,  at  the  Gate  of  Justice,  the 
detachment  from  the  Christian  army  and  the  officers  to  whom 
the  fortress  was  to  be  given  up.2 

The  once  redoubtable  Tower  of  the  Seven  Floors  is  now  a 


l"Ay  una  pnerta  en  la  Alhambra  por  la  qual  salioChico  Rey  de  los  Moros,  quando 
si  rindio  prisionero  al  Rey  de  Espafia  D.  Fernando,  y  le  entreg<5  la  ciudad  con  el  cas- 
tillo.  Pidio  esta  principe  como  por  merced,  y  en  memoria  de  tan  importante  con- 
quista,  al  que  quedasse  siempre  cerrada  esta  puerta.  Consintio  en  allo  el  Rey  Fer 
nando,  y  des  de  aquel  tiempo  no  solamente  no  se  abrio  la  puerta  sino  tambien  se 
construyo  junto  a  ella  fuerte  bastion."  —  MORERI'S  Historical  Dictionary,  Spanish 
Edition,  vol.  i.  p.  372 

2  The  minor  details  of  the  surrender  of  Granada  have  been  stated  in  different  ways 
even  by  eye-witnesses.  The  author,  in  his  revised  edition  of  the  Conquest,  has 
endeavored  to  adjust  them  according  to  the  latest  and  apparently  best  authorities. 


PORTRAIT    OF    CHARLES    V.    BY   TITIAN. 


MEMENTOS  OF  BOABDIL.  101 

mere  wreck,  having  been  blown  up  with  gunpowder  by  the 
French,  .when  they  abandoned  the  fortress.  Great  masses  of 
the  wall  lie  scattered  about,  buried  in  luxuriant  herbage,  or 
overshadowed  by  vines  and  tig-trees.  The  arch  of  the  gate 
way,  though  rent  by  the  shock,  still  remains ;  but  the  last 
wish  of  poor  Boabdil  has  again,  though  unintentionally,  been 
fulfilled,  for  the  portal  has  been  closed  up  by  loose  stones 
gathered  from  the  ruins,  and  remains  impassable. 

Mounting  my  horse,  I  followed  up  the  route  of  the  Moslem 
monarch  from  this  place  of  his  exit.  Crossing  the  hill  of  Los 
Martyros,  and  keeping  along  the  garden  wall  of  a  convent 
bearing  the  same  name,  I  descended  a  rugged  ravine  beset  by 
thickets  of  aloes  and  Indian  figs,  and  lined  with  caves  and 
hovels  swarming  with  gypsies.  The  descent  was  so  steep  and 
broken  that  I  was  fain  to  alight  and  lead  my  horse.  By  this 
via  dolorosa  poor  Boabdil  took  his  sad  departure  to  avoid 
passing  through  the  city ;  partly,  perhaps,  through  unwilling 
ness  that  its  inhabitants  should  behold  his  humiliation  ;  but 
chiefly,  in  all  probability,  lest  it  might  cause  some  popular 
agitation.  For  the  last  reason,  undoubtedly,  the  detachment 
sent  to  take  possession  of  the  fortress  ascended  by  the  same 
route. 

Emerging  from  this  rough  ravine,  so  full  of  melancholy 
associations,  and  passing  by  the  p^lerta  de  los  molinos  (the 
gate  of  the  mills),  I  issued  forth  upon  the  public  promenade 
called  the  Prado ;  and  pursuing  the  course  of  the  Xenil, 
arrived  at  a  small  chapel,  once  a  mosque,  now  the  Hermitage 
of  San  Sebastian.  Here,  according  to  tradition,  Boabdil  sur 
rendered  the  keys  of  Granada  to  King  Ferdinand.  I  rode 
slowly  thence  across  the  Vega  to  a  village  where  the  family 
and  household  of  the  unhappy  king  awaited  him,  for  he  had 
sent  them  forward  on  the  preceding  night  from  the  Alhambra. 
that  his  mother  and  wife  might  not  participate  in  his  personal 
humiliation,  or  be  exposed  to  the  gaze  of  the  conquerors. 
Following  on  in  the  route  of  the  melancholy  band  of  royal 
exiles,  I  arrived  at  the  foot  of  a  chain  of  barren  and  dreary 
heights,  forming  the  skirt  of  the  Alpuxarra  mountains.  From 
the  summit  of  one  of  these  the  unfortunate  Boabdil  took  his 
last  look  at  Granada ;  it  bears  a  name  expressive  of  his  sor 
rows,  La  Cuesta  de  las  Lagrimas  (the  hill  of  tears).  Beyond 
it,  a  sandy  road  winds  across  a  rugged  cheerless  waste,  doubly 
dismal  to  the  unhappy  monarch,  as  it  led  to  exile. 

I  spurred  my  horse  to  the  summit  of  a  rock,  where  Boabdil 
uttered  his  last  sorrowful  exclamation,  as  he  turned  his  eyes 


102  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

from  taking  thei  rewell  gaze  :  it  is  still  denominated  el 
ultimo  suspiro  del  Moro  (the  last  sigh  of  the  Moor).  Who 
can  wonder  at  his  anguish  at  being  expelled  from  such  a  king 
dom  and  such  an  abode  ?  With  the  Alhambra  he  seemed  to 
be  yielding  up  all  the  honors  of  his  line,  and  all  the  glories 
and  delights  of  life. 

It  was  here,  too,  that  his  affliction  was  embittered  by  the 
reproach  of  his  mother,  Ayxa,  who  had  so  often  assisted  him 
in  times  of  peril,  and  had  vainly  sought  to  instil  into  him  her 
own  resolute  spirit.  "  You  do  well,"  said  she,  "  to  weep  as 
a  woman  over  what  you  could  not  defend  as  a  man  ; "  a  speech 
savoring  more  of  the  pride  of  the  princess  than  the  tenderness 
of  the  mother. 

When  this  anecdote  was  related  to  Charles  V.,  by  bishop 
Guevara,  the  emperor  joined  in  the  expression  of  scorn  at  the 
weakness  of  the  wavering  Boabdil.  "  Had  I  been  he,  or  he 
been  I,"  said  the  haughty  potentate,  "  I  would  rather  have 
made  this  Alhambra  my  sepulchre  than  have  lived  without  a 
kingdom  in  the  Alpuxarra."  How  easy  it  is  for  those  in 
power  and  prosperity  to  preach  heroism  to  the  vanquished ! 
how  little  can  they  understand  that  life  itself  may  rise  in 
value  with  the  unfortunate,  when  nought  but  life  remains ! 

Slowly  descending  the  "  Hill  of  Tears,"  I  let  my  horse  take 
his  own  loitering  gait  back  to  Granada,  while  I  turned  the 
story  of  the  unfortunate  Boabdil  over  in  my  mind.  In  sum 
ming  up  the  particulars  I  found  the  balance  inclining  in  his 
favor.  Throughout  the  whole  of  his  brief,  turbulent,  and 
disastrous  reign,  he  gives  evidence  of  a  mild  and  amiable 
character.  He,  in  the  first  instance,  won  the  hearts  of  his 
people  by  his  affable  and  gracious  manners ;  he  was  always 
placable,  and  never  inflicted  any  severity  of  punishment  upon 
those  who  occasionally  rebelled  against  him.  He  was  per 
sonally  brave,  but  wanted  moral  courage ;  and,  in  times  of 
difficulty  and  perplexity,  was  wavering  and  irresolute.  This 
feebleness  of  spirit  hastened  his  downfall,  while  it  deprived 
him  of  that  heroic  grace  which  would  have  given  grandeur 
and  dignity  to  his  f'ate,  and  rendered  him  worthy  of  closing 
the  splendid  drama  of  the  Moslem  domination  in  Spain. 


PUBLIC  FJ3TES  OF  GRANADA.  103 


PUBLIC  F£TES  OF  GRANADA. 

MY  devoted  squire  and  whilom  ragged  cicerone  Mateo 
Ximenes,  had  a  poor-devil  passion  for  fetes  and  holidays,  and 
was  never  so  eloquent  as  \vhen  detailing  the  civil  and  reli 
gious  festivals  of  Granada.  During  the  preparations  for  the 
annual  Catholic  fete  of  Corpus  Christi,  he  was  in  a  state  of 
incessant  transition  between  the  Alhambra  and  the  subjacent 
city,  bringing  me  daily  accounts  of  the  magnificent  arrange 
ments  that  were  in  progress,  and  endeavoring,  but  in  vain, 
to  lure  me  down  from  my  cool  and  airy  retreat  to  witne'ss 
them.  At  length,  on  the  eve  of  the  eventful  day  I  yielded  to 
his  solicitations  and  descended  from  the  regal  halls  of  the 
Alhambra  under  his  escort,  as  did  of  yore  the  adventure-seek 
ing  Haroun  Alraschid,  under  that  of  his  Grand  Vizier  Giaffar. 
Though  it  was  yet  scarce  sunset,  the  city  gates  were  already 
thronged  with  the  picturesque  villagers  of  the  mountains,  and 
the  brown  peasantry  of  the  Vega.  Granada  has  ever  been  the 
rallying  place  of  a  great  mountainous  region,  studded  with 
towns  and  villages.  Hither,  during  the  Moorish  denomina 
tion,  the  chivalry  of  this  region  repaired,  to  join  in  the  splen 
did  and  semi-warlike  fetes  of  the  Vivarrambla,  and  hither  the 
elite  of  its  population  still  resort  to  join  in  the  pompous  cere 
monials  of  the  church.  Indeed,  many  of  the  mountaineers 
from  the  Alpuxarras  and  the  Sierra  de  Honda,  who  now  bow 
to  the  cross  as  zealous  Catholics,  bear  the  stamp  of  their 
Moorish  origin,  and  are  indubitable  descendants  of  the  fickle 
subjects  of  Boabdil. 

Under  the  guidance  of  Mateo,  I  made  my  way  through  streets 
already  teeming  with  a  holiday  population,  to  the  square  of 
the  Vivarrambla,  that  great  place  for  tilts  and  tourneys,  so 
often  sung  in  the  Moorish  ballads  of  love  and  chivalry.  A 
gallery  or  arcade  of  wood  had  been  erected  along  the  sides  of 
the  square,  for  the  grand  religious  procession  of  the  following 
day.  This  was  brilliantly  illuminated  for  the  evening  as  a 
promenade ;  and  bands  of  music  were  stationed  on  balconies 
on  each  of  the  four  faqades  of  the  square.  All  the  fashion  and 
beauty  of  Granada,  all  of  its  population  of  either  sex  that  had 
good  looks  or  fine  clothes  to  display,  thronged  this  arcade, 
promenading  round  and  round  the  Vivarrambla.  Here,  too, 
were  the  Majos  and  Majas,  the  rural  beaux  and  belles,  with 
fine  forms,  flashing  eyes,  and  gay  Andalusian  costumes ; 


104  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

some  of  them  from  Honda  itself,  that  stronghold  of  the  moun 
tains,  famous  for  contrabandistas,  bull-fighters,  and  beautiful 
women. 

While  this  gay  but  motley  throng  kept  up  a  constant  circula 
tion  in  the  gallery,  the  centre  of  the  square  was  occupied  by 
the  peasantry  from  the  surrounding  country  ;  who  made  no 
pretensions  to  display,  but  came  for  simple,  hearty  enjoyment. 
The  whole  square  was  covered  with  them  ;  forming  separate 
groups  of  families  and  neighborhoods,  like  gypsy  encampments, 
some  were  listening  to  the  traditional  ballad  drawled  out  to 
the  tinkling  of  the  guitar;  some  were  engaged  in  gay  conver 
sation  ;  some  were  dancing  to  the  click  of  the  castanet.  As  I 
threaded  my  way  through  this  teeming  region  with  Mateo  at 
my  heels,  I  passed  occasionally  some  rustic  party,  seated  on 
the  ground,  making  a  merry  though  frugal  repast.  If  they 
caught  my  eye  as  I  loitered  by,  they  almost  invariably  invited 
me  to  partake  of  their  simple  fare.  This  hospitable  usage, 
inherited  from  their  Moslem  invaders,  and  originating  in  the 
tent  of  the  Arab,  is  universal  throughout  the  land,  and  observed 
by  the  poorest  Spaniard. 

As  the  night  advanced,  the  gayety  gradually  died  away  in 
the  arcades ;  the  bands  of  music  ceased  to  play,  and  the  bril 
liant  crowd  dispersed  to  their  homes.  The  centre  of  the 
square  still  remained  well  peopled,  and  Mateo  assured  me 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  peasantry,  men,  women,  and  chil 
dren,  would  pass  the  night  there,  sleeping  on  the  bare  earth 
beneath  the  open  canopy  of  heaven.  Indeed,  a  summer  night 
requires  no  shelter  in  this  favored  climate ;  and  a  bed  is  a 
superfluity,  which  many  of  the  hardy  peasantry  of  Spain  never 
enjoy,  and  which  some  of  them  affect  to  despise.  The  com 
mon  Spaniard  wraps  himself  in  his  brown  cloak,  stretches  him 
self  on  his  manta  or  mule-cloth,  and  sleeps  soundly,  luxuriously 
accommodated  if  he  can  have  a  saddle  for  a  pillow.  In  a 
little  while  the  words  of  Mateo  were  made  good;  the  peasant 
multitude  nestled  down  on  the  ground  to  their  night's  repose, 
and  by  midnight  the  scene  on  the  Vivarrambla  resembled  the 
bivouac  of  an  army. 

The  next  morning,  accompanied  by  Mateo,  I  revisited  the 
square  at  sunrise.  It  was  still  strewed  with  groups  of  sleepers  : 
some  were  reposing  from  the  dance  and  revel  of  the  evening; 
others,  who  had  left  their  villages. after  work  on  the  preceding 
day,  having  trudged  on  foot  the  greater  part  of  the  night,  were 
taking  a  sound  sleep  to  freshen  themselves  for  the  festivities 
of  the  day.  Numbers  from  the  mountains,  and  the  remote 


PUBLIC  FETES   OF  GRANADA.  105 

villages  of  the  plain,  who  had  set  out  in  the  night,  continued 
to  arrive  with  their  wives  and  children.  All  were  in  high 
spirits ;  greeting  each  other  and  exchanging  jokes  and  pleas 
antries.  The  gay  tumult  thickened  as  the  day  advanced.  Now 
came  pouring  in  at  the  city  gates,  and  parading  through  the 
streets,  the  deputations  from  the  various  villages,  destined  to 
swell  the  grand  procession.  These  village  deputations  were 
headed  by  their  priests,  bearing  their  respective  crosses  and 
banners,  and  images  of  the  blessed  Virgin  and  of  patron  saints ; 
all  which  were  matters  of  great  rivalship  and  jealousy  among 
the  peasantry.  It  was  like  the  chivalrous  gatherings  of 
ancient  days,  when  each  town  and  village  sent  its  chiefs,  and 
warriors,  and  standards,  to  defend  the  capital,  or  grace  its 
festivities. 

At  length  all  these  various  detachments  congregated  into  one 
grand  pageant,  which  slowly  paraded  round  the  Vivarrambla, 
and  through  the  principal  streets,  where  every  window  and 
balcony  was  hung  with  tapestry.  In  this  procession  were  all 
the  religious  orders,  the  civil  and  military  authorities,  and  the 
chief  people  of  the  parishes  and  villages :  every  church  and 
convent  had  contributed  its  banners,  its  images,  its  relics,  and 
poured  forth  its  wealth  for  the  occasion.  In  the  centre  of 
the  procession  walked  the  archbishop,  under  a  damask  canopy, 
and  surrounded  by  inferior  dignitaries  and  their  dependants. 
The  whole  moved  to  the  swell  and  cadence  of  numerous  bands 
of  music,  and,  passing  through  the  midst  of  a  countless  yet 
silent  multitude,  proceeded  onward  to  the  cathedral. 

I  could  not  but  be  struck  with  the  changes  of  times  and  cus 
toms,  as  I  saw  this  monkish  pageant  passing  through  the  Vi 
varrambla,  the  ancient  seat  of  Moslem  pomp  and  chivalry. 
The  contrast  was  indeed  forced  upon  the  mind  by  the  decora 
tions  of  the  square.  The  whole  front  of  the  wooden  gallery 
erected  for  the  procession,  extending  several  hundred  feet, 
was  faced  with  canvas,  on  which  some  humble  though  patri 
otic  artist  had  painted,  by  contract,  a  series  of  the  principal 
scenes  and  exploits  of  the  conquest,  as  recorded  in  chronicle 
and  romance.  It  is  thus  the  romantic  legends  of  Granada 
mingle  themselves  with  everything,  and  are  kept  fresh  in  the 
public  mind. 

As  we  wended  our  way  back  to  the  Alhambra,  Mateo  was  in 
high  glee  and  garrulous  vein.  "  Ah,  Seiior,"  exclaimed  he, 
"  there  is  no  place  in  all  the  world  like  Granada  for  grand  cere 
monies,  (funciones  grandes),  a  man  need  spend  nothing  on  pleas 
ure  here,  it  is  all  furnished  him  gratis."  Pero,  el  dia  de  la 


106  THE  ALHAMBBA. 

Toma !  Ah  Senor !  el  dia  de  la  Toma !  "  But  the  day  of 
the  Taking !  ah,  Senor,  the  day  of  the  Taking ;  "  —  that  was  the 
great  day  which  crowned  Mateo's  notions  of  perfect  felicity. 
The  Dia  de  la  Toma,  I  found,  was  the  anniversary  of  the  cap 
ture  or  taking  possession  of  Granada  by  the  army  of  Ferdinand 
and  Isabella. 

On  that  day,  according  to  Mateo,  the  whole  city  is  abandoned 
to  revelry.  The  great  alarm  bell  on  the  watchtower  of  the 
Alhambra  (la  Torre  de  la  vela),  sends  forth  its  clanging  peals 
from  morn  till  night ;  the  sound  pervades  the  whole  Vega, 
and  echoes  along  the  mountains,  summoning  the  peasantry 
from  far  and  near  to  the  festivities  of  the  metropolis. 
"  Happy  the  damsel,"  says  Mateo,  "  who  can  get  a  chance  to 
ring  that  bell ;  it  is  a  charm  to  insure  a  husband  within  the 
year." 

Throughout  the  day  the  Alhambra  is  thrown  open  to  the 
public.  Its  halls  and  courts,  where  the  Moorish  monarchs 
once  held  sway,  resound  with  the  guitar  and  castanet,  and 
gay  groups,  in  the  fanciful  dresses  of  Andalusia,  perform 
their  traditional  dances  inherited  from  the  Moors. 

A  grand  procession,  emblematic  of  the  taking  possession  of 
the  city,  moves  through  the  principal  streets.  The  banner  of 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  that  precious  relic  of  the  Conquest,  is 
brought  forth  from  its  depository,  and  borne  in  triumph  by 
the  Alferez  mayor,  or  grand  standard-bearer.  The  portable 
camp-altar,  carried  about  with  the  sovereigns  in  all  their  cam 
paigns,  is  transported  into  the  chapel  royal  of  the  cathedral, 
and  placed  before  their  sepulchre,  where  their  effigies  lie  in 
monumental  marble.  High  mass  is  then  performed  in  memory 
of  the  Conquest  j  and  at  a  certain  part  of  the  ceremony  the 
Alferez  mayor  puts  on  his  hat,  and  waves  the  standard  above 
the  tomb  of  the  conquerors. 

A  more  whimsical  memorial  of  the  Conquest  is  exhibited  in 
the  evening  at  the  theatre.  A  popular  drama  is  performed, 
entitled  AVE  MARIA,  turning  on  a  famous  achievement  of 
Hernando  del  Pulgar,  surnamed  "  el  de  las  Hazanas  "  (he  of 
the  exploits),  a  madcap  warrior,  the  favorite  hero  of  the  popu 
lace  of  Granada.  During  the  time  of  the  siege,  the  young 
Moorish  and  Spanish  cavaliers  vied  with  each  other  in  ex 
travagant  bravadoes.  On  one  occasion  this  Hernando  del 
Pulgar,  at  the  head  of  a  handful  of  followers,  made  a  dash  into 
Granada  in  the  dead  of  the  night,  nailed  the  inscription  of  AVE 
MARIA  with  his  dagger  to  the  gate  of  the  principal  mosque,  a 


PUBLIC  F£TES  OF  GRANADA.  107 

token  of  having  consecrated  it  to  the  Virgin,  and  effected  his 
retreat  in  safety.1 

While  the  Moorish  cavaliers  admired  this  daring  exploit, 
they  felt  bound  to  resent  it.  On  the  following  day,  therefore, 
Taiie",  one  of  the  stoutest  among  them,  paraded  in  front  of  the 
Christian  army,  dragging  the  tablet  bearing  the  sacred  in 
scription  AVE  MARTA,  at  his  horse's  tail.  The  cause  of  the 
Virgin  was  eagerly  vindicated  by  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega,  who 
slew  the  Moor  in  single  combat,  and  elevated  the  tablet  in 
devotion  and  triumph  at  the  end  of  his  lance. 

The  drama  founded  on  this  exploit  is  prodigiously  popular 
with  the  common  people.  Although  it  has  been  acted  time 
out  of  mind,  it  never  fails  to  draw  crowds,  who  become  com 
pletely  lost  in  the  delusions  of  the  scene.  When  their  favor 
ite  Pulgar  strides  about  with  many  a  mouthy  speech,  in  the 
very  midst  of  the  Moorish  capital,  he  is  cheered  with  enthu 
siastic  bravos  ;  and  when  he  nails  the  tablet  to  the  door  of  the 
mosque,  the  theatre  absolutely  shakes  with  the  thunders  of 
applause.  On  the  other  hand,  the  unlucky  actors  who  figure 
in  the  part  of  the  Moors,  have  to  bear  the  brunt  of  popular 
indignation;  which  at  times  equals  that  of  the  Hero  of 
Lamanche,  at  the  puppet-show  of  Gines  de  Passamonte ;  for, 
when  the  infidel  Tarfe  plucks  down  the  tablet  to  tie  it  to  his 
horse's  tail,  some  of  the  audience  rise  in  fury,  and  are  ready 
to  jump  upon  the  stage  to  revenge  this  insult  to  the  Virgin. 

By  the  way,  the  actual  lineal  descendant  of  Hernando  del 
Pulgar,  was  the  Marquis  de  Salar.  As  the  legitimate  repre 
sentative  of  that  madcap  hero,  and  in  commemoration  and 
reward  of  this  hero's  exploit,  above  mentioned,  he  inherited 
the  right  to  enter  the  cathedral  on  certain  occasions,  on  horse 
back  ;  to  sit  within  the  choir,  and  to  put  on  his  hat  at  the 
elevation  of  the  host,  though  these  privileges  were  often  and 
obstinately  contested  by  the  clergy.  I  met  him  occasionally 
in  society  ;  he  was  young,  of  agreeable  appearance  and  man 
ners,  with  bright  black  eyes,  in  which  appeared  to  lurk  some 
of  the  fire  of  his  ancestors.  Among  the  paintings  in  the 
Vivarrambla,  on  the  fete  of  Corpus  Christi,  were  some  depict 
ing,  in  vivid  style,  the  exploits  of  the  family  hero.  An  old 
gray-headed  servant  of  the  Pulgars  shed  tears  on  beholding 
them,  and  hurried  home  to  inform  the  marquis.  The  eager 
zeal  and  enthusiasm  of  the  old  domestic  only  provoked  a  light 


1  See  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  exploit  in  the  chronicle  of  the  Conquest  0 
Urauada. 


108  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

laugh,  from  his  young  master;  whereupon,  turning  to  the 
brother  of  the  marquis,  with  that  freedom  allowed  in  Spain  to 
old  family  servants,  "  Come,  Senor,"  cried  he,  "  you  are  more 
considerate  than  your  brother  ;  come  and  see  your  ancestor  in 
all  his  glory  !  " 

In  emulation  of  this  great  Dia  de  la  Toma  of  Granada, 
almost  every  village  and  petty  town  of  the  mountains  has  its 
own  anniversary,  commemorating,  with  rustic  pomp  and  un 
couth  ceremonial,  its  deliverance  from  the  Moorish  yoke.  On 
these  occasions,  according  to  Mateo,  a  kind  of  resurrection 
takes  place  of  ancient  armor  and  weapons ;  great  two-handed 
swords,  ponderous  arquebuses  with  matchlocks,  and  other 
warlike  relics,  treasured  up  from  generation  to  generation, 
since  the  time  of  the  Conquest;  and  happy  the  community 
that  possesses  some  old  piece  of  ordnance,  perad venture  one  of 
the  identical  lombards  used  by  the  conquerors  ;  it  is  kept  thun 
dering  along  the  mountains  all  day  long,  provided  the  com 
munity  can  afford  sufficient  expenditure  of  powder. 

In  the  course  of  the  day,  a  kind  of  warlike  drama  is 
enacted.  Some  of  the  populace  parade  the  streets,  fitted  out 
with  the  old  armor,  as  champions  of  the  faith.  Others  appear 
dressed  up  as  Moorish  warriors.  A  tent  is  pitched  in  the  pub 
lic  square,  enclosing  an  altar  with  an  image  of  the  Virgin. 
The  Christian  warriors  approach  to  perform  their  devotions  ; 
the  infidels  surround  the  tent  to  prevent  their  entrance ;  a 
mock  fight  ensues ;  the  combatants  sometimes  forget  that  they 
are  merely  playing  a  -part,  and  dry  blows  of  grievous  weight 
are  apt  to  be  exchanged.  The  contest,  however,  invariably 
terminates  in  favor  of  the  good  cause.  The  Moors  are  de 
feated  and  taken  prisoners.  The  image  of  the  Virgin,  rescued 
from  thraldom,  is  elevated  in  triumph ;  a  grand  procession 
succeeds,  in  which  the  conquerors  figure  with  great  applause 
and  vainglory  ;  while  their  captives  are  led  in  chains,  to  the 
evident  delight  and  edification  of  the  spectators. 

These  celebrations  are  heavy  drains  on  the  treasuries  of 
these  petty  communities,  and  have  sometimes  to  be  suspended 
for  want  of  funds  ;  but,  when  times  grow  better,  or  sufficient 
money  has  been  hoarded  for  the  purpose,  they  are  resumed 
with  new  zeal  and  prodigality. 

Mateo  informed  me  that  he  had  occasionally  assisted  at 
these  fetes  and  taken  a  part  in  the  combats ;  but  always  on 
the  side  of  the  true  faith ;  porque  Senor,  added  the  ragged 
descendant  of  the  cardinal  Ximenes,  tapping  his  breast  with 
something  of  an  air,  "porque  Senor,  soy  Christiana  viejo." 


LOCAL   TRADITIONS.  109 


LOCAL   TRADITIONS. 

THE  common  people  of  Spain  have  an  Oriental  passion  for 
story -telling,  and  are  fond  of  the  marvellous.  They  will 
gather  round  the  doors  of  their  cottages  in  summer  evenings, 
or  in  the  great  cavernous  chimney-corners  of  the  ventas  in  the 
winter,  and  listen  with  insatiable  delight  to  miraculous  legends 
of  saints,  perilous  adventures  of  travellers,  and  daring  ex 
ploits  of  robbers  and  contrabandists.  The  wild  and  solitary 
character  of  the  country,  the  imperfect  diffusion  of  knowledge, 
the  scarceness  of  general  topics  of  conversation,  and  the 
romantic  adventurous  life  that  every  one  leads  in  a  land  where 
travelling  is  yet  in  its  primitive  state,  all  contribute  to  cherish 
this  love  of  oral  narration,  and  to  produce  a  strong  infusion 
of  the  extravagant  and  incredible.  There  is  no  theme,  how 
ever,  more  prevalent  and  popular  than  that  of  treasures  buried 
by  the  Moors ;  it  pervades  the  whole  country.  In  traversing 
the  wild  sierras,  the  scenes  of  ancient  foray  and  exploit,  you 
cannot  see  a  Moorish  atalaya,  or  watch-tower,  perched  among 
the  cliffs,  or  beetling  above  its  rock-built  village,  but  your 
muleteer,  on  being  closely  questioned,  will  suspend  the  smok 
ing  of  his  cigarillo  to  tell  some  tale  of  Moslem  gold  buried 
beneath  its  foundations  ;  nor  is  there  a  ruined  alcazar  in  a  city 
but  has  its  golden  tradition,  handed  down  from  generation  to 
generation  among  the  poor  people  of  the  neighborhood. 

These,  like  most  popular  fictions,  have  sprung  from  some 
scanty  groundwork  of  fact.  During  the  wars  between  Moor 
and  Christian  which  distracted  this  country  for  centuries, 
towns  and  castles  were  liable  frequently  and  suddenly  to 
change  owners,  and  the  inhabitants,  during  sieges  and  assaults, 
were  fain  to  bury  their  money  and  jewels  in  the  earth,  or  hide 
them  in  vaults  and  wells,  as  is  often  done  at  the  present  day 
in  the  despotic  and  belligerent  countries  of  the  East.  At  the 
time  of  the  expulsion  of  the  Moors  also,  many  of  them  con 
cealed  their  most  precious  effects,  hoping  that  their  exile  would 
be  but  temporary,  and  that  they  would  be  enabled  to  return  and 
retrieve  their  treasures  at  some  future  day.  It  is  certain  that 
from  time  to  time  hoards  of  gold  and  silver  coin  have  been 
accidentally  digged  up,  after  a  lapse  of  centuries,  from  among 
the  ruins  of  Moorish  fortresses  and  habitations ;  and  it  re 
quires  but  few  facts  of  the  kind  to  give  birth  to  a  thousand 
fictions. 


110  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

The  stories  thus  originating  have  generally  something  of  an 
Oriental  tinge,  and  are  marked  with  that  mixture  of  the  Arabic 
and  the  Gothic  which  seems  to  me  to  characterize  everything 
in  Spain,  and  especially  in  its  southern  provinces.  The  hid 
den  wealth  is  always  laid  under  magic  spell,  and  secured  by 
charm  and  talisman.  Sometimes  it  is  guarded  by  uncouth 
monsters  or  fiery  dragons,  sometimes  by  enchanted  Moors, 
who  sit  by  it  in  armor,  with  drawn  swords,  but  motionless  as 
statues,  maintaining  a  sleepless  watch  for  ages. 

The  Alhambra  of  course,  from  the  peculiar  circumstances 
of  its  history,  is  a  stronghold  for  popular  fictions  of  the  kind ; 
and  various  relics,  digged  up  from  time  to  time,  have  contrib 
uted  to  strengthen  them.  At  one  time  an  earthen  vessel  was 
found  containing  Moorish  coins  and  the  skeleton  of  a  cock, 
which,  according  to  the  opinion  of  certain  shrewd  inspectors, 
must  have  been  buried  alive.  At  another  time  a  vessel  was 
dug  up  containing  a  great  scarabaeus  or  beetle  of  baked  clay, 
covered  with  Arabic  inscriptions,  which  was  pronounced  a 
prodigious  amulet  of  occult  virtues.  In  this  way  the  wits  of 
the  ragged  brood  who  inhabit  the  Alhambra  have  been  set 
wool-gathering,  until  there  is  not  a  hall,  nor  tower,  nor  vault, 
of  the  old  fortress,  that  has  not  been  made  the  scene  of  some 
marvellous  tradition.  Having,  I  trust,  in  the  preceding  papers 
made  the  reader  in  some  degree  familiar  with  the  localities  of 
the  Alhambra,  I  shall  now  launch  out  more  largely  into  the  won 
derful  legends  connected  with  it,  and  which  I  have  diligently 
wrought  into  shape  and  form,  from  various  legendary  scraps 
and  hints  picked  up  in  the  course  of  my  perambulations ;  in 
the  same  manner  that  an  antiquary  works  out  a  regular  his 
torical  document  from  a  few  scattered  letters  of  an  almost 
defaced  inscription. 

If  anything  in  these  legends  should  shock  the  faith  of  the 
over-scrupulous  reader,  he  must  remember  the  nature  of  the 
place,  and  make  due  allowances.  He  must  not  expect  here 
the  same  laws  of  probability  that  govern  commonplace  scenes 
and  everyday  life  ;  he  must  remember  that  he  treads  the  halls 
of  an  enchanted  palace,  and  that  all  is  "haunted  ground.", 


THE  HOUSE  OF  THE   WEATHERCOCK.  Ill 


THE   HOUSE   OF  THE   WEATHEKCOCK. 

ON  the  brow  of  the  lofty  hill  of  the  Albaycin,  the  highest 
part  of  Granada,  and  which  rises  from  the  narrow  valley  of 
the  Darro,  directly  opposite  to  the  Alhambra,  stands  all  that 
is  left  of  what  was  once  a  royal  palace  of  the  Moors.  It  has, 
in  fact,  fallen  into  such  obscurity,  that  it  cost  me  much  trouble 
to  find  it ;  though  aided  in  my  researches  by  the  sagacious  and 
all-knowing  Mateo  Ximenes.  This  edifice  has  borne  for  cen 
turies  the  name  of  "The  House  of  the  Weathercock"  (La 
casa  del  Gallo  de  Viento),  from  a  bronze  figure  on  one  of  the 
turrets,  in  ancient  times,  of  a  warrior  on  horseback,  and  turn 
ing  with  every  breeze.  This  weathercock  was  considered  by 
the  Moslems  of  Granada  a  portentous  talisman.  According 
to  some  traditions,  it  bore  the  following  Arabic  inscription :  — 

Calet  el  Bedici  Aben  Habuz, 
Quidat  ehahet  Lindabuz. 

Which  has  been  rendered  into  Spanish :  — 

Dice  el  sabio  Aben  Habuz, 
Que  asi  se  defiende  el  Andaluz. 

And  into  English  :  — 

In  this  way,  says  Aben  Habus  the  wise, 
Andaluz  guards  against  surprise. 

This  Aben  Habuz,  according  to  some  of  the  old  Moorish 
chronicles,  was  a  captain  in  the  invading  army  of  Taric,  one 
of  the  conquerors  of  Spain,  who  left  him  as  Alcayde  of  Gra 
nada.  He  is  supposed  to  have  intended  this  effigy  as  a  perpet 
ual  warning  to  the  Moslems  of  Andaluz,  that,  surrounded  by 
foes,  their  safety  depended  upon  their  being  always  on  their 
guard  and  ready  for  the  field. 

Others,  among  whom  is  the  Christian  historian  Marmol, 
affirms  "  Badis  Aben  Habus  "  to  have  been  a  Moorish  sultan 
of  Granada,  and  that  the  weathercock  was  intended  as  a  per 
petual  admonition  of  the  instability  of  Moslem  power,  bearing 
the  following  words  in  Arabic  : 

"  Thus  Ibn  Habus  al  badise  predicts  Andalus  shall  one  day 
vanish  and  pass  away."  1 

1  MAUMOL,  Hist.  Rebellion  of  the  Moors, 


112  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

Another  version  of  this  portentous  inscription  is  given  by  a 
Moslem  historian,  on  the  authority  of  Sidi  Hasan,  a  faquir 
who  flourished  about  the  time  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  and 
who  was  present  at  the  taking  down  of  the  weathercock,  when 
the  old  Kassaba  was  undergoing  repairs. 

"I  saw  it,"  says  the  venerable  faquir,  "with  my  own  eyes: 
it  was  of  a  heptagonal  shape,  and  had  the  following  inscrip 
tion  in  verse  : 

"  The  palace  at  fair  Granada  presents  a  talisman." 

"The  horseman,  though  a  solid  body,  turns  with  every 
wind." 

"  This  to  a  wise  man  reveals  a  mystery.  In  a  little 
while  comes  a  calamity  to  ruin  both  the  palace  and  its 
owner." 

In  effect  it  was  not  long  after  this  meddling  with  the  por 
tentous  weathercock  that  the  following  event  occurred.  As  old 
Muley  Abul  Hassan,  the  king  of  Granada,  was  seated  under  a 
sumptuous  pavilion,  reviewing  his  troops  who  paraded  before 
him  in  armor  of  polished  steel,  and  gorgeous  silken  robes, 
mounted  on  fleet  steeds,  and  equipped  with  swords,  spears 
and  shields,  embossed  with  gold  and  silver,  suddenly  a  tem 
pest  was  seen  hurrying  from  the  south-west.  In  a  little  while, 
black  clouds  overshadowed  the  heavens  and  burst  forth  with 
a  deluge  of  rain.  Torrents  came  roaring  down  from  the  moun 
tains,  bringing  with  them  rocks  and  trees  ;  the  Darro  over 
flowed  its  banks;  mills  were  swept  away;  bridges  destroyed, 
gardens  laid  waste ;  the  inundation  rushed  into  the  city, 
undermining  houses,  drowning  their  inhabitants,  and  overflow 
ing  even  the  square  of  the  Great  Mosque.  The  people  rushed 
in  affright  to  the  mosques  to  implore  the  mercy  of  Allah, 
regarding  this  uproar  of  the  elements  as  the  harbinger  of  dread 
ful  calamities  ;  and,  indeed,  according  to  the  Arabian  historian, 
Al  Makkari,  it  was  but  a  type  and  prelude  of  the  direful 
war  which  ended  in  the  downfall  of  the  Moslem  kingdom  of 
Granada. 

I  have  thus  given  historic  authorities,  sufficient  to  show  the 
portentous  mysteries  connected  with  the  House  of  the  Weath 
ercock,  and  its  talismanic  horseman. 

I  now  proceed  to  relate  still  more  surprising  things  about 
Aben  Habuz  and  his  palace ;  for  the  truth  of  which,  should 
any  doubt  be  entertained,  I  refer  the  dubious  reader  to  Mateo 
Ximenes  and  his  fellow-historiographers  -of  the  Alhambra. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER.         118 


LEGEND   OF  THE  ARABIAN   ASTROLOGER. 

IN  old  times,  many  hundred  years  ago,  there  was  a  Moorish 
king  named  Aben  Habuz,  who  reigned  over  the  kingdom  of 
Granada.  He  was  a  retired  conqueror,  that  is  to  say,  one 
who  having  in  his  more  youthful  days  led  a  life  of  constant 
foray  and  depredation,  now  that  he  was  grown  feeble  and 
superannuated,  "  languished  for  repose,"  and  desired  nothing 
more  than  to  live  at  peace  with  all  the  world,  to  husband  his 
laurels,  and  to  enjoy  in  quiet  the  possessions  he  had  wrested 
from  his  neighbors. 

It  so  happened,  however,  that  this  most  reasonable  and  pa 
cific  old  monarch  had  young  rivals  to  deal  with  ;  princes  full  of 
his  early  passion  for  fame  and  fighting,  and  who  were  disposed 
to  call  him  to  account  for  the  scores  he  had  run  up  with  their 
fathers.  Certain  distant  districts  of  his  own  territories,  also, 
which  during  the  days  of  his  vigor  he  had  treated  with  a  high 
hand,  were  prone,  now  that  he  languished  for  repose,  to  rise  in 
rebellion  and  threaten  to  invest  him  in  his  capital.  Thus  he 
had  foes  on  every  side ;  and  as  Granada  is  surrounded  by  wild 
and  craggy  mountains,  which  hide  the  approach  of  an  enemy, 
the  unfortunate  Aben  Habuz  was  kept  in  a  constant  state  of 
vigilance  and  alarm,  not  knowing  in  what  quarter  hostilities 
might  break  out. 

It  was  in  vain  that  he  built  watch-towers  on  the  mountains, 
and  stationed  guards  at  every  pass  with  orders  to  make  fires 
by  night  and  smoke  by  day,  on  the  approach  of  an  enemy. 
His  alert  foes,  baffling  every  precaution,  would  break  out  of 
some  unthought-of  defile,  ravage  his  lands  beneath  his  very 
nose,  and  then  make  off  with  prisoners  and  booty  to  the  moun 
tains.  Was  ever  peaceable  and  retired  conqueror  in  a  more 
uncomfortable  predicament  ? 

While  Aben  Habuz  was  harassed  by  these  perplexities  and 
molestations,  an  ancient  Arabian  physician  arrived  at  his  court. 
His  gray  beard  descended  to  his  girdle,  and  he  had  every  mark 
of  extreme  age,  yet  he  had  travelled  almost  the  whole  way 
from  Egypt  011  foot,  with  no  other  aid  than  a  staff,  marked 
with  hieroglyphics.  His  fame  had  preceded  him.  His  name 
was  Ibrahim  Ebn  Abu  Ayub,  he  was  said  to  have  lived  ever 
since  the  days  of  Mahomet,  and  to  be  son  of  Abu  Ayub,  the 
last  of  the  companions  of  the  Prophet.  He  had,  when  a  child, 
followed  the  conquering  army  of  Araru  into  Egypt,  where  he 


114  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

had  remained  many  years  studying  the  dark  sciences,  and  par 
ticularly  magic,  among  the  Egyptian  priests. 

It  was,  moreover,  said  that  he  had  found  out  the  secret  of 
prolonging  life,  by  means  of  which  lie  had  arrived  to  the  great 
age  of  upwards  of  two  centuries,  though,  as  he  did  not  discover 
the  secret  until  well  stricken  in  years,  he  could  only  perpetu 
ate  his  gray  hairs  and  wrinkles. 

This  wonderful  old  man  was  honorably  entertained  by  the 
king ;  who  like  most  superannuated  monarchs,  began  to  take 
physicians  into  great  favor.  He  would  have  assigned  him  an 
apartment  in  his  palace,  but  the  astrologer  preferred  a  cave  in 
the  side  of  the  hill  which  rises  above  the  city  of  Granada, 
being  the  same  on  which  the  Alhambra  has  since  been  built. 
He  caused  the  cave  to  be  enlarged  so  as  to  form  a  spacious  and 
lofty  hall,  with  a  circular  hole  at  the  top,  through  which,  as 
through  a  well,  he  could  see  the  heavens  and  behold  the  stars 
even  at  midday.  The  walls  of  this  hall  were  covered  with 
Egyptian  hieroglyphics,  with  cabalistic  symbols,  and  with  the 
figures  of  the  stars  in  their  signs.  This  hall  he  furnished  with 
many  implements,  fabricated  under  his  directions  by  cunning 
artificers  of  Granada,  but  the  occult  properties  of  which  were 
known  only  to  himself. 

In  a  little  while  the  sage  Ibrahim  became  the  bosom  coun 
sellor  of  the  king,  who  applied  to  him  for  advice  in  every 
emergency.  Aben  Habuz  was  once  inveighing  against  the 
injustice  of  his  neighbors,  and  bewailing  the  restless  vigilance 
he  had  to  observe  to  guard  himself  against  their  invasions; 
when  he  had  finished,  the  astrologer  remained  silent  for  a 
moment,  and  then  replied,  "  Know,  0  King,  that  when  I  was 
in  Egypt  I  beheld  a  great  marvel  devised  by  a  pagan  priest 
ess  of  old.  On  a  mountain,  above  the  city  of  Borsa,  and  over 
looking  the  great  valley  of  the  Nile,  was  a  figure  of  a  ram, 
and  above  it  a  figure  of  a  cock,  both  of  molten  brass,  and 
turning  upon  a  pivot.  Whenever  the  country  was  threatened 
with  invasion,  the  ram  would  turn  in  the  direction  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  cock  would  crow ;  upon  this  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city  knew  of  the  danger,  and  of  the  quarter  from  which 
it  was  approaching,  and  could  take  timely  means  to  guard 
against  it." 

"  God  is  great ! "  exclaimed  the  pacific  Aben  Habuz,  "  what 
a  treasure  would  be  such  a  ram  to  keep  an  eye  upon  these 
mountains  around  me ;  and  then  such  a  cock,  to  crow  in  time 
of  danger  !  Allah  Akbar !  how  securely  I  might  sleep  in  my 
palace  with  such  sentinels  on  the  top ! " 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER.         115 

The  astrologer  waited  until  the  ecstasies  of  the  king  had 
subsided,  and  then  proceeded. 

"  After  the  victorious  Amru  (may  he  rest  in  peace !)  had 
finished  his  conquest  of  Egypt,  I  remained  among  the  priests 
of  the  land,  studying  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  their  idola 
trous  faith,  and  seeking  to  make  myself  master  of  the  hidden 
knowledge  for  which  they  are  renowned.  I  was  one  day 
seated  on  the  banks  of  the  Nile,  conversing  with  an  ancient 
priest,  when  he  pointed  to  the  mighty  pyramids  which  rose 
like  mountains  out  of  the  neighboring  desert.  '  All  that  we 
can  teach  thee,'  said  he,  'is  nothing  to  the  knowledge  locked 
up  in  those  mighty  piles.  In  the  centre  of  the  central  pyra 
mid  is  a  sepulchral  chamber,  in  which  is  enclosed  the  mummy 
of  the  high-priest  who  aided  in  rearing  that  stupendous  pile ; 
and  with  him  is  buried  a  wondrous  book  of  knowledge  contain 
ing  all  the  secrets  of  magic  and  art.  This  book  was  given  to 
Adam  after  his  fall,  and  was  handed  down  from  generation 
to  generation  to  King  Solomon  the  wise,  and  by  its  aid  he 
built  the  temple  of  Jerusalem.  How  it  came  into  the  pos 
session  of  the  builder  of  the  pyramids,  is  known  to  him  alone 
who  knows  all  things." 

"  When  I  heard  these  words  of  the  Egyptian  priest,  my 
heart  burned  to  get  possession  of  that  book.  I  could  command 
the  services  of  many  of  the  soldiers  of  our  conquering  army, 
and  of  a  number  of  the  native  Egyptians  :  with  these  I  set  to 
work,  and  pierced  the  solid  mass  of  the  pyramid,  until,  after 
great  toil,  I  came  upon  one  of  its  interior  and  hidden  passages. 
Following  this  up,  and  threading  a  fearful  labyrinth,  I  pene 
trated  into  the  very  heart  of  the  pyramid,  even  to  the  sepulchral 
chamber,  where  the  mummy  of  the  high-priest  had  lain  for 
ages.  I  broke  through  the  outer  cases  of  the  mummy,  un 
folded  its  many  wrappers  and  bandages,  and  at  length  found 
the  precious  volume  on  its  bosom.  I  seized  it  with  a  trem 
bling  hand,  and  groped  my  way  out  of  the  pyramid,  leaving 
the  mummy  in  its  dark  and  silent  sepulchre,  there  to  await 
the  final  day  of  resurrection  and  judgment." 

"Son  of  Abu  Ayub,"  exclaimed  Aben  Habuz,  "thou  hast 
been  a  great  traveller,  and  seen  marvellous  things ;  but  of 
what  avail  to  me  is  the  secret  of  the  pyramid,  and  the  volume 
of  knowledge  of  the  wise  Solomon  ?  "' 

"  This  it  is,  0  king  !  By  the  study  of  that  book  I  am  in 
structed  in  all  magic  arts,  and  can  command  the  assistance  of 
genii  to  accomplish  my  plans.  The  mystery  of  the  Talisman 
of  Borsa  is  therefore  familiar  to  me.  and  such  a  talisman  can  I 
make  ;  nay,  one  of  greater  virtues." 


116  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

"  0  wise  son  of  Abu  Ayub,"  cried  Aben  Habuz,  "  better  were 
such  a  talisman,  than  all  the  watch-towers  on  the  hills,  and 
sentinels  upon  the  borders.  Give  me  such  a  safeguard,  and 
the  riches  of  my  treasury  are  at  thy  command." 

The  astrologer  immediately  set  to  work  to  gratify  the 
wishes  of  the  monarch.  He  caused  a  great  tower  to  be  erected 
upon  the  top  of  the  royal  palace,  which  stood  on  the  brow  of 
the  hill  of  the  Albaycin.  The  tower  was  built  of  stones 
brought  from  Egypt,  and  taken,  it  is  said,  from  one  of  the 
pyramids.  In  the  upper  part  of  the  tower  was  a  circular  hall, 
with  windows  looking  towards  every  point  of  the  compass, 
and  before  each  window  was  a  table,  on  which  was  arranged, 
as  on  a  chessboard,  a  mimic  army  of  horse  and  foot,  with  the 
effigy  of  the  potentate  that  ruled  in  that  direction,  all  carved 
of  wood.  To  each  of  these  tables  there  was  a  small  lance,  no 
bigger  than  a  bodkin,  on  which  were  engraved  certain  Chal- 
daic  characters.  This  hall  was  kept  constantly  closed,  by  a 
gate  of  brass,  with  a  great  lock  of  steel,  the  key  of  which  was 
in  possession  of  the  king. 

On  the  top  of  the  tower  was  a  bronze  figure  of  a  Moorish 
horseman,  fixed  on  a  pivot,  with  a  shield  on  one  arm,  and  his 
lance  elevated  perpendicularly.  The  face  of  this  horseman 
was  towards  the  city,  as  if  keeping  guard  over  it ;  but  if  any 
foe  were  at  hand,  the  figure  would  turn  in  that  direction,  and 
would  level  the  lance  as  if  for  action. 

When  this  talisman  was  finished,  Aben  Habuz  was  all  im 
patient  to  try  its  virtues  ;  and  longed  as  ardently  for  an  inva 
sion  as  he  had  ever  sighed  after  repose.  His  desire  was  soon 
granted.  Tidings  were  brought,  early  one  morning,  by  the 
sentinel  appointed  to  watch  the  tower,  that  the  face  of  the 
bronze  horseman  was  turned  towards  the  mountains  of  Elvira, 
and  that  his  lance  pointed  directly  against  the  Pass  of  Lope. 

"Let  the  drums  and  trumpets  sound  to  arms,  and  all  Gra 
nada  be  put  on  the  alert,"  said  Aben  Habuz. 

"O  king,"  said  the  astrologer,  "let  not  your  city  be  dis 
quieted  nor  your  warriors  called  to  arms ;  we  need  no  aid  of 
force  to  deliver  you  from  your  enemies.  Dismiss  your  attend 
ants,  and  let  us  proceed  alone  to  the  secret  hall  of  the  tower." 

The  ancient  Aben  Habuz  mounted  the  staircase  of  the 
tower,  leaning  on  the  arm  of  the  still  more  ancient  Ibrahim 
Ebn  Abu  Ayub.  They  unlocked  the  brazen  door  and  entered. 

The  window  that  looked  towards  the  Pass  of  Lope  was  open. 
"  In  this  direction,"  said  the  astrologer,  "  lies  the  danger ; 
approach,  0  king,  and  behold  the  mystery  of  the  table." 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER.         117 

King  Aben  Habuz  approached  the  seeming  chessboard,  on 
which  were  arranged  the  small  wooden  effigies,  when,  to  his 
surprise,  he  perceived  that  they  were  all  in  motion.  The 
horses  pranced  and  curvetted,  the  warriors  brandished  their 
weapons,  and  there  was  a  faint  sound  of  drums  and  trumpets, 
and  the  clang  of  arms,  and  neighing  of  steeds ;  but  all  no 
louder,  nor  more  distinct,  than  the  hum  of  the  bee,  or  the  sum 
mer-fly,  in  the  drowsy  ear  of  him  who  lies  at  noontide  in 
the  shade. 

"  Behold,  0  king,"  said  the  astrologer,  "  a  proof  that  thy 
enemies  are  even  now  in  the  field.  They  must  be  advancing 
through  yonder  mountains,  by  the  Pass  of  Lope.  Would  you 
produce  a  panic  and  confusion  amongst  them,  and  cause  them 
to  retreat  without  loss  of  life,  strike  these  effigies  with  the 
butt-end  of  this  magic  lance  ;  would  you  cause  bloody  feud 
and  carnage,  strike  with  the  point." 

A  livid  streak  passed  across  the  countenance  of  Aben 
Habuz  ;  he  seized  the  lance  with  trembling  eagerness ;  his 
gray  beard  wagged  with  exultation  as  he  tottered  toward  the 
table  :  "  Son  of  Abu  Ayub,"  exclaimed  he,  in  chuckling  tone, 
"  I  think  we  will  have  a  little  blood !  " 

So  saying,  he  thrust  the  magic  lance  into  some  of  the  pygmy 
effigies,  and  belabored  others  with  the  butt-end,  upon  which 
the  former  fell  as  dead  upon  the  board,  and  the  rest  turning 
upon  each  other  began,  pell-mell,  a  chance-medley  fight. 

It  was  with  difficulty  the  astrologer  could  stay  the  hand  of 
the  most  pacific  of  monarchs,  and  prevent  him  from  absolutely 
exterminating  his  foes ;  at  length  he  prevailed  upon  him  to 
leave  the  tower,  and  to  send  out  scouts  to  the  mountains  by 
the  Pass  of  Lope. 

They  returned  with  the  intelligence,  that  a  Christian  army 
had  advanced  through  the  heart  of  the  Sierra,  almost  within 
sight  of  Granada,  where  a  dissension  had  broken  out  among 
them  ;  they  had  turned  their  weapons  against  each  other,  and 
after  much  slaughter  had  retreated  over  the  border. 

Aben  Habuz  was  transported  with  joy  on  thus  proving  the 
efficacy  of  the  talisman.  "  At  length,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  lead 
a  life  of  tranquillity,  and  have  all  my  enemies  in  my  power. 
0  wise  son  of  Abu  Ayub,  what  can  I  bestow  on  thee  in  reward 
for  such  a  blessing  ?  " 

"  The  wants  of  an  old  man  and  a  philosopher,  0  king,  are 
few  and  simple ;  grant  me  but  the  means  of  fitting  up  my 
cave  as  a  suitable  hermitage,  and  I  am  content." 

"  How  noble  is  the   moderation  of  the  truly  wise ! "  ex- 


118  THE  ALHAMBBA. 

claimed  Abeu  Habuz,  secretly  pleased  at  the  cheapness  of  the 
recompense.  He  summoned  his  treasurer,  and  bade  him  dis 
pense  whatever  sums  might  be  required  by  Ibrahim  to  com 
plete  and  furnish  his  hermitage. 

The  astrologer  now  gave  orders  to  have  various  chambers 
hewn  out  of  the  solid  rock,  so  as  to  form  ranges  of  apartments 
connected  with  his  astrological  hall ;  these  he  caused  to  be 
furnished  with  luxurious  ottomans  and  divans,  and  the  walls 
to  be  hung  with  the  richest  silks  of  Damascus.  "  I  am  an  old 
man,"  said  he,  "  and  can  no  longer  rest  my  bones  on  stone 
couches,  and  these  damp  walls  require  covering." 

He  had  baths  too  constructed,  and  provided  with  all  kinds 
of  perfumes  and  aromatic  oils  :  "  For  a  bath,"  said  he,  "  is 
necessary  to  counteract  the  rigidity  of  age,  and  to  restore 
freshness  and  suppleness  to  the  frame  withered  by  study." 

He  caused  the  apartments  to  be  hung  with  innumerable 
silver  and  crystal  lamps,  which  he  filled  with  a  fragrant  oil, 
prepared  according  to  a  receipt  discovered  by  him  in  the 
tombs  of  Egypt.  This  oil  was  perpetual  in  its  nature,  and 
diffused  a  soft  radiance  like  the  tempered  light  of  day.  "  The 
light  of  the  sun,"  said  he,  "  is  too  garish  and  violent  for  the 
eyes  of  an  old  man,  and  the  light  of  the  lamp  is  more  con 
genial  to  the  studies  of  a  philosopher." 

The  treasurer  of  king  Aben  Habuz  groaned  at  the  sums 
daily  demanded  to  fit  up  this  hermitage,  and  he  carried  his 
complaints  to  the  king.  The  royal  word,  however,  had  been 
given  ;  Aben  Habuz  shrugged  his  shoulders  :  "  We  must  have 
patience."  said  he,  "  this  old  man  has  taken  his  idea  of  a 
philosophic  retreat  from  the  interior  of  the  pyramids,  and  of 
the  vast  ruins  of  Egypt;  but  all  things  have  an  end,  and  so 
will  the  furnishing  of  his  cavern." 

The  king  was  in  the  right ;  the  hermitage  was  at  length 
complete,  and  formed  a  sumptuous  subterranean  palace.  The 
astrologer  expressed  himself  perfectly  content,  and,  shutting 
himself  up,  remained  for  three  whole  days  buried  in  study. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  appeared  again  before  the  treas 
urer.  "  One  thing  more  is  necessary,"  said  he,  "  one  trifling 
solace  for  the  intervals  of  mental  labor." 

"  0  wise  Ibrahim,  I  am  bound  to  furnish  everything  neces 
sary  for  thy  solitude  ;  what  more  dost  thou  require  ?  " 

"I  would  fain  have  a  few  dancing  women." 

"  Dancing  women  ! "  echoed  the  treasurer,  with  surprise. 

"  Dancing  women,"  replied  the  sage,  gravely  ;  "  and  let 
them  be  young  and  fair  to  look  upon  ;  for  the  sight  of  youth 


LEGEND   OF  THE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER.         119 

and  beauty  is  refreshing.  A  few  will  suffice,  for  I  am  a  phi 
losopher  of  simple  habits  and  easily  satisfied." 

While  the  philosophic  Ibrahim  Ebn  Abu  Ayub  passed  his 
time  thus  sagely  in  his  hermitage,  the  pacific  Aben  Habuz 
carried  on  furious  campaigns  in  effigy  in  his  tower.  It  was  a 
glorious  thing  for  an  old  man,  like  himself,  of  quiet  habits, 
to  have  war  made  easy,  and  to  be  enabled  to  amuse  himself 
in  his  chamber  by  brushing  away  whole  armies  like  so  many 
swarms  of  flies. 

For  a  time  he  rioted  in  the  indulgence  of  his  humors,  and 
even  taunted  and  insulted  his  neighbors,  to  induce  them  to 
make  incursions ;  but  by  degrees  they  grew  wary  from  re 
peated  disasters  until  no  one  ventured  to  invade  his  territo 
ries.  For  many  months  the  bronze  horseman  remained  on 
the  peace  establishment  with  his  lance  elevated  in  the  air, 
and  the  worthy  old  monarch  began  to  repine  at  the  want  of 
his  accustomed  sport,  and  to  grow  peevish  at  his  monotonous 
tranquillity. 

At  length,  one  day,  the  talismanic  horseman  veered  sud 
denly  round,  and  lowering  his  lance,  made  a  dead  point  tow 
ards  the  mountains  of  Guadix.  Aben  Habuz  hastened  to  his 
tower,  but  the  magic  table  in  that  direction  remained  quiet ; 
not  a  single  warrior  was  in  motion.  Perplexed  at  the  circum 
stance,  he  sent  forth  a  troop  of  horse  to  scour  the  mountains 
and  reconnoitre.  They  returned  after  three  days'  absence. 

"  We  have  searched  every  mountain  pass,"  said  they,  "  but 
not  a  helm  nor  spear  was  stirring.  All  that  we  have  found 
in  the  course  of  our  foray,  was  a  Christian  damsel  of  surpass 
ing  beauty,  sleeping  at  noontide  beside  a  fountain,  whom  we 
have  brought  away  captive." 

"A  damsel  of  surpassing  beauty  !"  exclaimed  Aben  Habuz, 
his  eyes  gleaming  with  animation  ;  "  let  her  be  conducted 
into  my  presence." 

The  beautiful  damsel  was  accordingly  conducted  into  his 
presence.  She  was  arrayed  with  all  the  luxury  of  ornament 
that  had  prevailed  among  the  Gothic  Spaniards  at  the  time 
of  the  Arabian  conquest.  Pearls  of  dazzling  whiteness  were 
entwined  with  her  raven  tresses  ;  and  jewels  sparkled  on  her 
forehead,  rivalling  the  lustre  of  her  eyes.  Around  her  neck 
was  a  golden  chain,  to  which  was  suspended  a  silver  lyre, 
which  hung  by  her  side. 

The  flashes  of  her  dark  refulgent  eye  were  like  sparks  of 
fire  on  the  withered,  yet  combustible,  heart  of  Aben  Habuz ; 
the  swimming  voluptuousness  of  her  gait  made  his  senses 


120  THE  ALHAMERA. 

reel.     "  Fairest  of  women,"  cried  he,  with  rapture,  "  who  and 
what  art  thou  ?  " 

"  The  daughter  of  one  of  the  Gothic  princes,  who  but  lately 
ruled  over  this  land.  The  armies  of  my  father  have  been 
destroyed,  as  if  by  magic,  among  these  mountains ;  he  has  been 
driven  into  exile,  and  his  daughter  is  a  captive." 

"Beware,  O  king!"  whispered  Ibrahim  Ebn  Abu  Ayub, 
••  this  may  be  one  of  these  northern  sorceresses  of  whom  we 
have  heard,  who  assume  the  most  seductive  forms  to  beguile 
the  unwary.  Methinks  I  read  witchcraft  in  her  eye,  and  sor 
cery  in  every  movement.  Doubtless  this  is  the  enemy  pointed 
out  by  the  talisman." 

"  Son  of  Abu  Ayub,"  replied  the  king,  "thou  art  a  wise  man, 
I  grant,  a  conjurer  for  aught  I  know  ;  but  thou  art  little 
versed  in  the  ways  of  woman.  In  that  knowledge  will  I  yield 
to  no  man  ;  no,  not  to  the  wise  Solomon  himself,  notwith 
standing  the  number  of  his  wives  and  concubines.  As  to  this 
damsel,  I  see  no  harm  in  her ;  she  is  fair  to  look  upon,  and 
finds  favor  in  my  eyes." 

"  Hearken,  0  king  ! "  replied  the  astrologer.  "  I  have  given 
thee  many  victories  by  means  of  my  talisman,  but  have  never 
shared  any  of  the  spoil.  Give  me  then  this  stray  captive,  to 
solace  me  in  my  solitude  with  her  silver  lyre.  If  she  be 
indeed  a  sorceress,  I  have  counter  spells  that  set  her  charms 
at  defiance." 

"  What !  more  women  ! "  cried  Aben  Habuz.  "  Hast  thou 
not  already  dancing  women  enough  to  solace  thee  ?  " 

"  Dancing  women  have  I,  it  is  true,  but  no  singing  women. 
I  would  fain  have  a  little  minstrelsy  to  refresh  my  mind  when 
weary  with  the  toils  of  study." 

"  A  truce  Avith  thy  hermit  cravings,"  said  the  king,  impa 
tiently.  "This  damsel  have  I  marked  for  my  own.  I  see 
much  comfort  in  her ;  even  such  comfort  as  David,  the  father 
of  Solomon  the  wise,  found  in  the  society  of  Abishag  the 
Shunamite." 

Further  solicitations  and  remonstrances  of  the  astrologer 
only  provoked  a  more  peremptory  reply  from  the  monarch, 
and  they  parted  in  high  displeasure.  The  sage  shut  himself 
up  in  his  hermitage  to  brood  over  his  disappointment ;  ere  he 
departed,  however,  he  gave  the  king  one  more  warning  to 
beware  of  his  dangerous  captive.  But  where  is  the  old  man 
in  love  that  will  listen  to  counsel  ?  Aben  Habuz  resigned 
himself  to  the  full  sway  of  his  passion.  His  only  study  was 
how  to  render  himself  amiable  in  the  eyes  of  the  Gothic 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER.        121 

beauty.  He  had  not  youth  to  recommend  him,  it  is  true,  but 
then  he  had  riches ;  and  when  a  lover  is  old,  he  is  generally 
generous.  The  Zac'atin  of  Granada  was  ransacked  for  the 
most  precious  merchandise  of  the  East ;  silks,  jewels,  precious 
gems,  exquisite  perfumes,  all  that  Asia  and  Africa  yielded  of 
rich  and  rare,  were  lavished  upon  the  princess.  All  kinds 
of  spectacles  and  festivities  were  devised  for  her  entertain 
ment  ;  minstrelsy,  dancing,  tournaments,  bull-tights  :  —  Gra 
nada  for  a  time  was  a  scene  of  perpetual  pageant.  The  Gothic 
princess  regarded  all  this  splendor  with  the  air  of  one  accus 
tomed  to  magnificence.  She  received  everything  as  a  homage 
due  to  her  rank,  or  rather  to  her  beauty ;  for  beauty  is  more 
lofty  in  its  exactions  even  than  rank.  Nay,  she  seemed  to 
take  a  secret  pleasure  in  exciting  the  monarch  to  expenses 
that  made  his  treasury  shrink ;  and  then  treating  his  extrava 
gant  generosity  as  a  mere  matter  of  course.  With  all  his 
assiduity  and  munificence,  also,  the  venerable  lover  could  not 
flatter  himself  that  he  had  made  any  impression  on  her  heart. 
She  never  frowned  on  him,  it  is  true,  but  then  she  never 
smiled.  Whenever  he  began  to  plead  his  passion,  she  struck 
her  silver  lyre.  There  was  a  mystic  charm  in  the  sound.  In 
an  instant  the  monarch  began  to  nod ;  a  drowsiness  stole  over 
him,  and  he  gradually  sank  into  a  sleep,  from  which  he  awoke 
wonderfully  refreshed,  but  perfectly  cooled  for  the  time  of 
his  passion.  This  was  very  baffling  to  his  suit;  but  then  these 
slumbers  were  accompanied  by  agreeable  dreams,  which  com 
pletely  inthralled  the  senses  of  the  drowsy  lover ;  so  he 
continued  to  dream  on,  while  all  Granada  scoffed  at  his 
infatuation,  and  groaned  at  the  treasures  lavished  for  a  song. 

At  length  a  danger  burst  on  the  head  of  Aben  Habuz,  against 
which  his  talisman  yielded  him  no  warning.  An  insurrection 
broke  out  in  his  very  capital :  his  palace  was  surrounded  by 
an  armed  rabble,  who  menaced  his  life  and  the  life  of  his 
Christian  paramour.  A  spark  of  his  ancient  warlike  spirit 
was  awakened  in  the  breast  of  the  monarch.  At  the  head  of 
a  handful  of  his  guards  he  sallied  forth,  put  the  rebels  to 
flight,  and  crushed  the  insurrection  in  the  bud. 

When  quiet  was  again  restored,  he  sought  the  astrologer, 
who  still  remained  shut  up  in  his  hermitage,  chewing  the 
bitter  cud  of  resentment. 

Aben  Habuz  approached  him  with  a  conciliatory  tone.  "  0 
wise  son  of  Abu  Ayub,"  said  he,  "well  didst  thou  predict 
dangers  to  me  from  this  captive  beauty :  tell  me  then,  thou 
who  art  so  quick  at  foreseeing  peril,  what  I  should  do  to 
avert  it." 


122  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

"Put  from  thee  the  infidel  damsel  who  is  the  cause." 

"  Sooner  would  I  part  with  my  kingdom,"  cried  Aben  Habuz. 

"Thou  art  in  danger  of  losing  both,"  replied  the  astrologer. 

"Be  not  harsh  and  angry,  0  most  profound  of  philosophers  ; 
consider  the  double  distress  of  a  monarch  and  a  lover,  and 
devise  some  means  of  protecting  me  from  the  evils  by  which 
I  am  menaced.  I  care  not  for  grandeur,  I  care  not  for  power, 
I  languish  only  for  repose ;  would  that  I  had  some  quiet  retreat 
where  I  might  take  refuge  from  the  world,  and  all  its  cares, 
and  pomps,  and  troubles,  and  devote  the  remainder  of  my  days 
to  tranquillity  and  love." 

The  astrologer  regarded  him  for  a  moment,  from  under  his 
bushy  eyebrows. 

"  And  what  wouldst  thou  give,  if  I  could  provide  thee  such 
a  retreat  ? " 

"  Thou  shouldst  name  thy  own  reward,  and  whatever  it  might 
be,  if  within  the  scope  of  my  power,  as  my  soul  liveth,  it 
should  be  thine." 

"  Thou  hast  heard,  0  king,  of  the  garden  of  Irem,  one  of  the 
prodigies  of  Arabia  the  happy." 

"  I  have  heard  of  that  garden  ;  it  is  recorded  in  the  Koran, 
even  in  the  chapter  entitled  'The  Dawn  of  Day.'  I  have, 
moreover,  heard  marvellous  things  related  of  it  by  pilgrims 
who  had  been  to  Mecca ;  but  I  considered  them  wild  fables, 
such  as  travellers  are  wont  to  tell  who  have  visited  remote 
countries." 

"  Discredit  not,  O  king,  the  tales  of  travellers,"  rejoined  the 
astrologer,  gravely,  "  for  they  contain  precious  rarities  of 
knowledge  brought  from  the  ends  of  the  earth.  As  to  the 
palace  and  garden  of  Irem,  what  is  generally  told  of  them  is 
true ;  I  have  seen  them  with  mine  own  eyes  —  listen  to  my 
adventure;  for  it  has  a  bearing  upon  the  subject  of  your 
request. 

"  In  my  younger  days,  when  a  mere  Arab  of  the  desert,  I 
tended  my  father's  camels.  In  traversing  the  desert  of  Aden, 
one  of  them  strayed  from  the  rest,  and  was  lost.  I  searched 
after  it  for  several  days,  but  in  vain,  until,  wearied  and  faint, 
I  laid  myself  down  at  noontide,  and  slept  under  a  palm-tree 
by  the  side  of  a  scanty  well.  When  I  awoke,  I  found  myself 
at  the  gate  of  a  city.  I  entered,  and  beheld  noble  streets,  and 
squares,  and  market-places ;  but  all  were  silent  and  without  an 
inhabitant.  I  wandered  on  until  I  came  to  a  sumptuous  pal 
ace  with  a  garden  adorned  with  fountains  and  fish-ponds,  and 
groves  and  flowers,  and  orchards  laden  with  delicious  fruit ; 


LEGEND  OF  TffE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER.         123 

but  still  no  one  was  to  be  seen.  Upon  which,  appalled  at  this 
loneliness,  I  hastened  to  depart ;  and,  after  issuing  forth  at  the 
gate  of  the  city,  I  turned  to  look  upon  the  place,  but  it  was 
no  longer  to  be  seen ;  nothing  but  the  silent  desert  extended 
before  my  eyes. 

"  In  the  neighborhood  I  met  with  an  aged  dervise,  learned 
in  the  traditions  and  secrets  of  the  land,  and  related  to  him 
what  had  befallen  me.  '  This,'  said  he,  '  is  the  far-famed  gar 
den  of  Irem,  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  desert.  It  only  ap 
pears  at  times  to  some  wanderer  like  thyself,  gladdening 
him  with  the  sight  of  towers  and  palaces  and  garden  walls 
overhung  with  richly-laden  fruit-trees,  and  then  vanishes, 
leaving  nothing  but  a  lonely  desert.  And  this  is  the  story  of 
it.  In  old  times,  when  this  country  was  inhabited  by  the  Ad- 
dites,  King  Sheddad,  the  son  of  Ad,  the  great  grandson  of 
JJoah,  founded  here  a  splendid  city.  When  it  was  finished,  and 
he  saw  its  grandeur,  his  heart  was  puffed  up  with  pride  and 
arrogance,  and  he  determined  to  build  a  royal  palace,  with  gar 
dens  which  should  rival  all  related  in  the  Koran  of  the  celes 
tial  paradise.  But  the  curse  of  heaven  fell  upon  him  for  his 
presumption.  He  and  his  subjects  were  swept  from  the  earth, 
and  his  splendid  city,  and  palace,  and  gardens,  were  laid  under 
a  perpetual  spell,  which  hides  them  from  human  sight,  except 
ing  that  they  are  seen  at  intervals,  by  way  of  keeping  his  sin 
in  perpetual  remembrance. 

"This  story,  O  king,  and  the  wonders  I  had  seen,  ever 
dwelt  in  my  mind  ;  and  in  after  years,  when  I  had  been  in 
Egypt,  and  was  possessed  of  the  book  of  knowledge  of  Solo 
mon  the  wise,  I  determined  to  return  and  revisit  the  garden  of 
Irem.  I  did  so,  and  found  it  revealed  to  my  instructed  sight. 
I  took  possession  of  the  palace  of  Sheddad.  and  passed  several 
days  in  his  mock  paradise.  The  genii  who  watch  over  the 
place,  were  obedient  to  my  magic  power,  and  revealed  to  me 
the  spells  by  which  the  whole  garden  had  been,  as  it  were, 
conjured  into  existence,  and  by  which  it  was  rendered  invisible. 
Such  a  palace  and  garden,  0  king,  can  I  make  for  thee,  even 
here,  on  the  mountain  above  thy  city.  Do  I  not  know  all  the 
secret  spells  ?  and  am  I  not  in  possession  of  the  book  of 
knowledge  of  Solomon  the  wise  ?  " 

"  O  wise  son  of  Abu  Ayub  !  "  exclaimed  Aben  Habuz,  trem 
bling  with  eagerness,  "  thou  art  a  traveller  indeed,  and  hast 
seen  and  learned  marvellous  things  !  Contrive  me  such  a  par 
adise,  and  ask  any  reward,  even  to  the  half  of  my  kingdom." 

"  Alas  ! "  replied  the  other,  "  thou  knowest  I  am  an  old  man. 


124  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

and  a  philosopher,  and  easily  satisfied ;  all  the  reward  I  ask  is 
the  first  beast  of  burden,  with  its  load,  which  shall  enter  the 
magic  portal  of  the  palace." 

The  monarch  gladly  agreed  to  so  moderate  a  stipulation,  and 
the  astrologer,  began  his  work.  On  the  summit  of  the  hill, 
immediately  above  his  subterranean  hermitage,  he  caused  a 
great  gateway  or  barbican  to  be  erected,  opening  through  the 
centre  of  a  strong  tower. 

There  was  an  outer  vestibule  or  porch,  with  a  lofty  arch, 
and  within  it  a  portal  secured  by  massive  gates.  On  the  key 
stone  of  the  portal  the  astrologer,  with  his  own  hand,  wrought 
the  figure  of  a  huge  key  ;  and  on  the  key-stone  of  the  outer 
arch  of  the  vestibule,  which  was  loftier  than  that  of  the  portal 
he  carved  a  gigantic  hand.  These  were  potent  talismans,  over 
which  he  repeated  many  sentences  in  an  unknown  tongue. 

When  this  gateway  was  finished  he  shut  himself  up  for  two 
days  in  his  astrological  hall,  engaged  in  secret  incantations ; 
on  the  third  he  ascended  the  hill,  and  passed  the  whole  day 
on  its  summit.  At  a  late  hour  of  the  night  he  came  down, 
and  presented  himself  before  Aben  Habuz.  "  At  length,  0 
king,"  said  he,  "my  labor  is  accomplished.  On  the  summit 
of  the  hill  stands  one  of  the  most  delectable  palaces  that  ever 
the  head  of  man  devised,  or  the  heart  of  man  desired.  It 
contains  sumptuous  halls  and  galleries,  delicious  gardens,  cool 
fountains,  and  fragrant  baths ;  in  a  word,  the  whole  mountain 
is  converted  into  a  paradise.  Like  the  garden  of  Irem,  it  is 
protected  by  a  mighty  charm,  which  hides  it  from  the  view 
and  search  of  mortals,  excepting  such  as  possess  the  secret  of 
its  talismans." 

"  Enough  ! "  cried  Aben  Habuz,  joyfully,  "  to-morrow  morn 
ing  with  the  first  light  we  will  ascend  and  take  possession." 
The  happy  monarch  slept  but  little  that  night.  Scarcely  had 
the  rays  of  the  sun  begun  to  play  about  the  snowy  summit  of 
the  Sierra  Nevada,  when  he  mounted  his  steed,  and,  accom 
panied  only  by  a  few  chosen  attendants,  ascended  a  steep  and 
narrow  road  leading  up  the  hill.  Beside  him,  on  a  white 
palfrey,  rode  the  Gothic  princess,  her  whole  dress  sparkling 
with  jewels,  while  round  her  neck  was  suspended  her  silver 
lyre.  The  astrologer  walked  on  the  other  side  of  the  king, 
assisting  his  steps  with  his  hieroglyphic  staff,  for  he  never 
mounted  steed  of  any  kind. 

Aben  Habuz  looked  to  see  the  towers  of  the  palace  brighten 
ing  above  him,  and  the  imbowered  terraces  of  its  gardens 
stretching  along  the  heights  ;  but  as  yet  nothing  of  the  kind 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER.         125 

•was  to  be  descried.  "  That  is  the  mystery  and  safeguard  of 
the  place,"  said  the  astrologer,  "  nothing  can  be  discerned 
until  you  have  passed  the  spellbound  gateway,  and  been  put 
in  possession  of  the  place." 

As  they  approached  the  gateway,  the  astrologer  paused,  and 
pointed  out  to  the  king  the  mystic  hand  and  key  carved  upon 
the  portal  of  the  arch.  "These,"  said  he,  "are  the  talismans 
which  guard  the  entrance  to  this  paradise.  Until  yonder 
hand  shall  reach  down  and  seize  that  key,  neither  mortal 
power  nor  magic  artifice  can  prevail  against  the  lord  of  this 
mountain." 

While  Aben  Habuz  was  gazing,  with  open  mouth  and  silent 
wonder,  at  these  mystic  talismans,^  the  palfrey  of  the  princess 
proceeded,  and  bore  her  in  at  the  portal,  to  the  very  centre  of 
the  barbican. 

"  Behold,"  cried  the  astrologer,  "  my  promised  reward ;  the 
first  animal  with  its  burden  which  should  enter  the  magic 
gateway." 

Aben  Habuz  smiled  at  what  he  considered  a  pleasantry  of 
the  ancient  man ;  but  when  he  found  him  to  be  in  earnest,  his 
gray  beard  trembled  with  indignation. 

"  Son  of  Abu  Ayub,"  said  he,  sternly,  "  what  equivocation  is 
this  ?  Thou  knowest  the  meaning  of  my  promise  :  the  first 
beast  of  burden,  with  its  load,  that  should  enter  this  portal. 
Take  the  strongest  mule  in  my  stables,  load  it  with  the  most 
precious  things  of  my  treasury,  and  it  is  thine  ;  but  dare  not 
raise  thy  thoughts  to  her  who  is  the  delight  of  my  heart." 

"  What  need  I  of  wealth,"  cried  the  astrologer,  scornfully ; 
'•'have  I  not  the  book  of  knowledge  of  Solomon  the  wise,  and 
through  it  the  command  of  the  secret  treasures  of  the  earth  ? 
The  princess  is  mine  by  right ;  thy  royal  word  is  pledged  :  I 
claim  her  as  my  own." 

The  princess  looked  down  haughtily  from  her  palfrey,  and 
a  light  smile  of  scorn  curled  her  rosy  lip  at  this  dispute 
between  two  gray-beards,  for  the  possession  of  youth  and 
beauty.  The  wrath  of  the  monarch  got  the  better  of  his  dis 
cretion.  "  Base  son  of  the  desert,"  cried  he,  "  thou  may'st  be 
master  of  many  arts,  but  know  me  for  thy  master,  and  pre 
sume  not  to  juggle  with  thy  king." 

"My  master!  my  king!"  echoed  the  astrologer  —  "The 
monarch  of  a  mole-hill  to  claim  sway  over  him  who  possesses 
the  talismans  of  Solomon !  Farewell,  Aben  Habuz ;  reign 
over  thy  petty  kingdom,  and  revel  in  thy  paradise  of  fools ; 
for  me,  I  will  laugh  at  thee  in  my  philosophic  retirement." 


126  THE  ALHAMBEA. 

So  saying  he  seized  the  bridle  of  the  palfrey,  smote  the  earth 
with  his  staff,  and  sank  with  the  Gothic  princess  through  the 
centre  of  the  barbican.  The  earth  closed  over  them,  and  no 
trace  remained  of  the  opening  by  which  they  had  descended. 

Aben  Habuz  was  struck  dumb  for  a  time  with  astonishment. 
Recovering  himself,  he  ordered  a  thousand  workmen  to  dig, 
with  pickaxe  and  spade,  into  the  ground  where  the  astrologer 
had  disappeared.  They  digged  and  digged,  but  in  vain ;  the 
flinty  bosom  of  the  hill  resisted  their  implements ;  or  if  they 
did  penetrate  a  little  way,  the  earth  filled  in  again  as  fast  as 
they  threw  it  out.  Aben  Habuz  sought  the  mouth  of  the 
cavern  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  leading  to  the  subterranean 
palace  of  the  astrologer;  but  it  was  nowhere  to  be  found. 
Where  once  had  been  an  entrance,  was  now  a  solid  surface  of 
primeval  rock.  With  the  disappearance  of  Ibrahim  Ebn  Abu 
Ayub  ceased  the  benefit  of  his  talismans.  The  bronze  horse 
man  remained  fixed,  with  his  face  turned  toward  the  hill,  and 
his  spear  pointed  to  the  spot  where  the  astrologer  had  de 
scended,  as  if  there  still  lurked  the  deadliest  foe  of  Aben 
Habuz. 

From  time  to  time  the  sound  of  music,  and  the  tones  of  a 
female  voice,  could  be  faintly  heard  from  the  bosom  of  the 
hill ;  and  a  peasant  one  day  brought  word  to  the  king,  that  in 
the  preceding  night  he  had  found  a  fissure  in  the  rock,  by 
which  he  had  crept  in,  until  he  looked  down  into  a  subter 
ranean  hall,  in  which  sat  the  astrologer,  on  a  magnificent 
divan,  slumbering  and  nodding  to  the  silver  lyre  of  the  prin 
cess,  which  seemed  to  hold  a  magic  sway  over  his  senses. 

Aben  Habuz  sought  the  fissure  in  the  rock,  but  it  was  again 
closed.  He  renewed  the  attempt  to  unearth  his  rival,  but  all 
in  vain.  The  spell  of  the  hand  and  key  was  too  potent  to  be 
counteracted  by  human  power.  As  to  the  summit  of  the 
mountain,  the  site  of  the  promised  palace  and  garden,  it 
remained  a  naked  waste ;  either  the  boasted  elysium  was 
hidden  from  sight  by  enchantment,  or  was  a  mere  fable  of  the 
astrologer.  The  world  charitably  supposed  the  latter,  and 
some  used  to  call  the  place  "  The  King's  Folly ; "  while  others 
named  it  "  The  Fool's  Paradise." 

To  add  to  the  chagrin  of  Aben  Habuz,  the  neighbors  whom 
he  had  defied  and  taunted,  and  cut  up  at  his  leisure  while 
master  of  the  talismanic  horseman,  finding  him  no  longer 
protected  by  magic  spell,  made  inroads  into  his  territories 
from  all  sides,  and  the  remainder  of  the  life  of  the  most 
pacific  of  monarchs  was  a  tissue  of  turmoils. 


LEGEND   OF  TEE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER.         127 

At  length  Aben  Habuz  died,  and  was  buried.  Ages  have 
since  rolled  away.  The  Alhambra  has  been  built  on  the 
eventful  mountain,  and  in  some  measure  realizes  the  fabled 
delights  of  the  garden  of  Irern.  The  spellbound  gateway  still 
exists  entire,  protected  no  doubt  by  the  mystic  hand  and  key, 
and  now  forms  the  Gate  of  Justice,  the  grand  entrance  to  the 
fortress.  Under  that  gateway,  it  is  said,  the  old  astrologer 
remains  in  his  subterranean  hall,  nodding  on  his  divan,  lulled 
by  the  silver  lyre  of  the  princess. 

The  old  invalid  sentinels  who  mount  guard  at  the  gate  hear 
the  strains  occasionally  in  the  summer  nights ;  and,  yielding 
to  their  soporific  power,  doze  quietly  at  their  posts.  Nay,  so 
drowsy  an  influence  pervades  the  place,  that  even  those  who 
watch  by  day  may  generally  be '  seen  nodding  on  the  stone 
benches  of  the  barbican,  or  sleeping  under  the  neighboring 
trees  ;  so  that  in  fact  it  is  the  drowsiest  military  post  in  all 
Christendom.  All  this,  say  the  ancient  legends,  will  endure 
from  age  to  age.  The  princess  will  remain  captive  to  the  as 
trologer  ;  and  the  astrologer,  bound  up  in  magic  slumber  by 
the  princess,  until  the  last  day,  unless  the  mystic  hand  shall 
grasp  the  fated  key,  and  dispel  the  whole  charm  of  this  en 
chanted  mountain. 


NOTE  TO  THE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER. 

Al  Makkari,  in  his  history  of  the  Mahorainedan  Dynasties  in  Spain, 
cites  from  another  Arabian  writer  an  account  of  a  talismanic  effigy 
somewhat  similar  to  the  one  in  the  foregoing  legend. 

In  Cadiz,  says  he,  there  formerly  stood  a  square  tower  upwards  of  one 
hundred  cubits  high,  built  of  huge  blocks  of  stone,  fastened  together  with 
clamps  of  brass.  On  the  top  was  the  figure  of  a  man,  holding  a  staff  in 
his  right  hand,  his  face  turned  to  the  Atlantic,  and  pointing  with  the 
forefinger  of  his  left  hand  to  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar.  It  was  said  to  have 
been  set  up  in  ancient  times  by  the  Gothic  kings  of  Andalus,  as  a  beacon 
or  guide  to  navigators.  The  Moslems  of  Barbary  and  Andalus,  con 
sidered  it  a  talisman  which  exercised  a  spell  over  the  seas.  Under  its 
guidance,  swarms  of  piratical  people  of  a  nation  called  Majus,  appeared 
on  the  coast  in  large  vessels  with  a  square  sail  in  the  bow,  and  another 
in  the  stern.  They  came  every  six  or  seven  years;  captured  everything 
they  met  with  on  the  sea;  guided  by  the  statue,  they  passed  through  the 
Straits  into  the  Mediterranean,  landed  on  the  coast  of  Andalus,  laid 
everything  waste  with  fire  and  sword;  and  sometimes  carried  their  depre 
dations  on  the  opposite  coasts  even  as  far  as  Syria. 

At  length,  it  came  to  pass  in  the  time  of  the  civil  wars,  a  Moslem  Ad 
miral  who  had  taken  possession  of  Cadiz,  hearing  that  the  statue  on  top 
of  the  tower  was  of  pure  gold,  had  it  lowered  to  the  ground  and  broken  to 
pieces ;  when  it  proved  to  be  of  gilded  brass.  With  the  destruction  of 
the  idol,  the  spell  over  the  sea  was  at  an  end.  From  that  time  forward, 


128  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

nothing  more  was  seen  of  the  piratical  people  of  the  ocean,  excepting  that 
two  of  their  barks  were  wrecked  on  the  coast,  one  at  Marsu-1-Majus  (the 
port  of  the  Majus),  the  other  close  to  the  promontory  of  Al-Aghan. 

The  maritime  invaders  above  mentioned  by  Al  Makkari  must  have 
been  the  Northmen. 


VISITORS  TO   THE   ALHAMBRA. 

FOR  nearly  three  months  had  I  enjoyed  undisturbed  my 
dream  of  sovereignty  in  the  Alhambra  :  a  longer  term  of  quiet 
than  had  been  the  lot  of  many  of  my  predecessors.  During 
this  lapse  of  time  the  progress  of  the  season  had  wrought  the 
usual  change.  On  my  arrival  I  had  found  everything  in  the 
freshness  of  May ;  the  foliage  of  the  trees  was  still  tender 
and  transparent ;  the  pomegranate  had  not  yet  shed  its  bril 
liant  crimson  blossoms ;  the  orchards  of  the  Xeuil  and  the 
Darro  were  in  full  bloom  ;  the  rocks  were  hung  with  wild 
flowers,  and  Granada  seemed  completely  surrounded  by  a 
wilderness  of  roses  ;  among  which  innumerable  nightingales 
sang,  not  merely  in  the  night,  but  all  day  long. 

Now  the  advance  of  summer  bad  withered  the  rose  and 
silenced  the  nightingale,  and  the  distant  country  began  to 
look  parched  and  sunburnt ;  though  a  perennial  verdure 
reigned  immediately  round  the  city  and  in  the  deep  narrow 
valleys  at  the  foot  of  the  snow-capped  mountains. 

The  Alhambra  possesses  retreats  graduated  to  the  heat  of 
the  weather,  among  which  the  most  peculiar  is  the  almost 
subterranean  apartment  of  the  baths.  This  still  retains  its 
ancient  Oriental  character,  though  stamped  with  the  touching 
traces  of  decline.  At  the  entrance,  opening  into  a  small  court 
formerly  adorned  with  flowers,  is  a  hall,  moderate  in  size,  but 
light  and  graceful  in  architecture.  It  is  overlooked  by  a 
small  gallery  supported  by  marble  pillars  and  morisco  arches. 
An  alabaster  fountain  in  the  centre  of  the  pavement  still 
throws  up  a  jet  of  water  to  cool  the  place.  On  each  side  are 
deep  alcoves  with  raised  platforms,  where  the  bathers,  after 
their  ablutions,  reclined  on  cushions,  soothed  to  voluptuous 
repose  by  the  fragrance  of  the  perfumed  air  and  the  notes  of 
soft  music  from  the  gallery.  Beyond  this  hall  are  the  interior 
chambers,  still  more  retired  ;  the  sanctum  sanctorum  of  female 
privacy  :  for  here  the  beauties  of  the  Harem  indulged  in  the 
luxury  of  the  baths.  A  soft  mysterious  light  reigns  through 
the  place,  admitted  through  small  apertures  (lumbreras)  in  the 


VISITORS   TO   THE  ALHAMBRA.  129 

vaulted  ceiling.  The  traces  of  ancient  elegance  are  still  to  be 
seen  ;  and  the  alabaster  baths  in  which  the  sultanas  once  re 
clined.  The  prevailing  obscurity  and  silence  have  made  these 
vaults  a  favorite  resort  of  bats,  who  nestle  during  the  day  in 
the  dark  nooks  and  corners,  and  on  being  disturbed,  flit  myste 
riously  about  the  twilight  chambers,  heightening,  in  an  in 
describable  degree,  their  air  of  desertion  and  decay. 

In  this  cool  and  elegant,  though  dilapidated  retreat,  which 
had  the  freshness  and  seclusion  of  a  grotto,  I  passed  the  sul 
try  hours  of  the  day  as  summer  advanced,  emerging  towards 
sunset ;  and  bathing,  or  rather  swimming,  at  night  in  the  great 
reservoir  of  the  main  court.  In  this  way  1  was  enabled 
in  a  measure  to  counteract  the  relaxing  and  enervating  influ 
ence  of  the  climate. 

My  dream  of  absolute  sovereignty,  however,  came  at  length 
to  an  end.  I  was  roused  one  morning  by  the  report  of  fire 
arms,  which  reverberated  among  the  towers  as  if  the  castle 
had  been  taken  by  surprise.  On  sallying  forth,  I  found  an 
old  cavalier  with  a  number  of  domestics,  in  possession  of  the 
Hall  of  Ambassadors.  He  was  an  ancient  count  who  had 
come  up  from  his  palace  in  Granada  to  pass  a  short  time  in 
the  Alhambra  for  the  benefit  of  purer  air ;  and  who,  being  a 
veteran  and  inveterate  sportsman,  was  endeavoring  to  get  an 
appetite  for  his  breakfast  by  shooting  at  swallows  from  the 
balconies.  It  was  a  harmless  amusement ;  for  though,  by  the 
alertness  of  his  attendants  in  loading  his  pieces,  he  was  en 
abled  to  keep  up  a  brisk  fire,  I  could  not  accuse  him  of  the 
death  of  a  single  swallow.  Nay,  the  birds  themselves  seemed 
to  enjoy  the  sport,  and  to  deride  his  want  of  skill,  skimming 
in  circles  close  to  the  balconies,  and  twittering  as  they  darted 
by. 

The  arrival  of  this  old  gentleman  changed  essentially  the 
aspect  of  affairs,  but  caused  no  jealousy  nor  collision.  We 
tacitly  shared  the  empire  between  us,  like  the  last  kings  of 
Granada,  excepting  that  we  maintained  a  most  amicable  alliance. 
He  reigned  absolute  over  the  Court  of  the  Lions  and  its  adja 
cent  halls,  while  I  maintained  peaceful  possession  of  the  re 
gions  of  the  baths  and  the  little  garden  of  Lindaraxa.  We 
took  our  meals  together  under  the  arcades  of  the  court,  where 
the  fountains  cooled  the  air,  and  bubbling  rills  ran  along  the 
channels  of  the  marble  pavement. 

In  the  evenings  a  domestic  circle  would  gather  about  the 
worthy  old  cavalier.  The  countess,  his  wife  by  a  second  mar 
riage,  would  come  up  from  the  city  accompanied  by  her  step- 


130  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

daughter  Carmen,  an  only  child,  a  charming  little  being,  still 
in  her  girlish  years.  Then  there  were  always  some  of  his 
official  dependants,  his  chaplain,  his  lawyer,  his  secretary,  his 
steward,  and  other  officers  and  agents  of  his  extensive  posses 
sions,  who  brought  him  up  the  news  or  gossip  of  the  city,  and 
formed  his  evening  party  of  tresillo  or  ombre.  Thus  he  held 
a  kind  of  domestic  court,  where  each  one  paid  him  deference, 
and  sought  to  contribute  to  his  amusement,  without,  however, 
any  appearance  of  servility,  or  any  sacrifice  of  self-respect.  In 
fact,  nothing  of  the  kind  was  exacted  by  the  demeanor  of  the 
Count ;  for  whatever  may  be  said  of  Spanish  pride,  it  rarely 
chills  or  constrains  the  intercourse  of  social  or  domestic  life. 
Among  no  people  are  the  relations  between  kindred  more  unre 
served  and  cordial,  or  between  superior  and  dependant  more 
free  from  haughtiness  on  the  one  side,  and  obsequiousness  on 
the  other.  In  these  respects  there  still  remains  in  Spanish 
life,  especially  in  the  provinces,  much  of  the  vaunted  simplicity 
of  the  olden  time. 

The  most  interesting  member  of  this  family  group,  in  my 
eyes,  was  the  daughter  of  the  count,  the  lovely  little  Carmen ; 
she  was  but  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  appeared  to  be 
considered  a  mere  child,  though  the  idol  of  the  family,  going 
generally  by  the  child-like,  but  endearing  appellation  of  la 
Nina.  Her  form  had  not  yet  attained  full  maturity  and  devel 
opment,  but  possessed  already  the  exquisite  symmetry  and  pliant 
grace  so  prevalent  in  this  country.  Her  blue  eyes,  fair  com 
plexion,  and  light  hair,  were  unusual  in  Andalusia,  and  gave 
a  mildness  and  gentleness  to  her  demeanor  in  contrast  to  the 
usual  fire  of  Spanish  beauty,  but  in  unison  with  the  guileless 
and  confiding  innocence  of  her  manners.  She  had  at  the  same 
time  the  innate  aptness  and  versatility  of  her  fascinating 
countrywomen.  Whatever  she  undertook  to  do  she  did  well 
and  apparently  without  effort.  She  sang,  played  the  guitar 
and  other  instruments,  and  danced  the  picturesque  dances  of 
her  country  to  admiration,  but  never  seemed  to  seek  admiration. 
Everything  was  spontaneous,  prompted  by  her  own  gay  spirits 
and  happy  temper. 

The  presence  of  this  fascinating  little  being  spread  a  new 
charm  about  the  Alhambra,  and  seemed  to  be  in  unison  with 
the  place.  While  the  count  and  countess,  with  the  chaplain 
or  secretary,  were  playing  their  game  of  tresillo  under  the 
vestibule,  of  the  Court  of  Lions,  she,  attended  by  Dolores,  who 
acted  as  her  maid  of  honor,  would  sit  by  one  of  the  fountains, 
and  accompanying  herself  on  the  guitar,  would  sing  some  of 


RELICS  AND   GENEALOGIES.  131 

those  popular  romances  which  abound  in  Spain,  or,  what  was 
still  more  to  my  taste,  some  traditional  ballad  about  the  Moors. 
Never  shall  I  think  of  the  Alhambra  without  remembering 
this  lovely  little  being,  sporting  in  happy  and  innocent  girlhood 
in  its  marble  halls,  dancing  to  the  sound  of  the  Moorish  casta 
nets,  or  mingling  the  silver  warbling  of  her  voice  with  the 
music  of  its  fountains. 


RELICS  AND  GENEALOGIES. 

IF  I  had  been  pleased  and  interested  by  the  count  and  his 
family,  as  furnishing  a  picture  of  a  Spanish  domestic  life,  I 
was  still  more  so  when  apprised  of  historical  circumstances 
which  linked  them  with  the  heroic  times  of  Granada.  In  fact, 
in  this  worthy  old  cavalier,  so  totally  un warlike,  or  whose 
deeds  in  arms  extended,  at  most,  to  a  war  on  swallows  and 
martlets,  I  discovered  a  lineal  descendant  and  actual  represen 
tative  of  Gonsalvo  of  Cordova,  "  The  Grand  Captain,"  who 
won  some  of  his  brightest  laurels  before  the  walls  of  Granada, 
and  was  one  of  the  cavaliers  commissioned  by  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella  to  negotiate  the  terms  of  surrender ;  nay,  more,  the 
count  was  entitled,  did  he  choose  it,  to  claim  remote  affinity 
with  some  of  the  ancient  Moorish  princes,  through  a  scion  of 
his  house,  Don  Pedro  Venegas,  surnamed  the  Tornadizo  ;  and 
by  the  same  token,  his  daughter,  the  fascinating  little  Carmen, 
might  claim  to  be  rightful  representative  of  the  princess  Ceti- 
nierieu  or  the  beautiful  Lindaraxa.1 

Understanding  from  the  count  that  he  had  some  curious 
relics  of  the  Conquest,  preserved  in  his  family  archives,  I 
accompanied  him  early  one  morning  down  to  his  palace  in 
Granada  to  examine  them.  The  most  important  of  these 
relics  was  the  sword  of  the  Grand  Captain  ;  a  weapon  desti 
tute  of  all  ostentatious  ornament,  as  the  weapons  of  great 

1  Lest  this  should  be  deemed  a  mere  stretch  of  fancy,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
following  genealogy,  derived  by  the  historian  Alcantara,  from  an  Arabian  manuscript, 
on  parchment,  in  the  archives  of  the  marquis  of  Corvera.  It  is  a  specimen  of  the 
curious  affinities  between  Christians  and  Moslems,  produced  by  capture  and  inter 
marriages,  during  the  Moorish  wars.  From  Aben  Hud,  the  Moorish  king,  the  con 
queror  of  the  Almohades,  was  descended  in  right  line  Cid  Yahia  Abraham  Alnagar, 
prince  of  Almeria,  who  married  a  daughter  of  King  Bermejo.  They  had  three  children, 
commonly  called  the  Cetimerian  Princes.  1st.  Jusef  ben  Alhamar,  who  for  a  time 
usurped  the  throne  of  Granada,  ad.  The  Prince  Nasar,  who  married  the  celebrated 
Lindaraxa.  3d.  The  Princess  Cetimerien,  who  married  Don  Pedro  Venegas,  captured 
by  the  Moors  in  his  boyhood,  a  younger  son  of  the  House  of  Luque,  of  which  house 
the  old  count  was  the  present  head. 


132  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

generals  are  apt  to  be,  with  a  plain  hilt  of  ivory  and  a  broad 
thin  blade.  It  might  furnish  a  comment  on  hereditary  honors, 
to  see  the  sword  of  the  Grand  Captain  legitimately  declined 
into  such  feeble  hands. 

The  other  relics  of  the  Conquest  were  a  number  of  espin- 
gardas  or  muskets  of  unwieldy  size  and  ponderous  weight, 
worthy  to  rank  with  those  enormous  two-edged  swords  pre 
served  in  old  armories,  which  look  like  relics  from  the  days 
of  the  giants. 

Beside  other  hereditary  honors,  I  found  the  old  count  was 
Alferez  mayor,  or  grand  standard-bearer,  in  which  capacity  he 
was  entitled  to  bear  the  ancient  standard  of  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella,  on  certain  high  and  solemn  occasions,  and  to  wave  it 
over  their  tombs.  I  was  shown  also  the  caparisons  of  velvet, 
sumptuously  embroidered  with  gold  and  silver,  for  six  horses, 
with  which  he  appeared  in  state  when  a  new  sovereign  was  to 
be  proclaimed  in  Granada  and  Seville ;  the  count  mounting 
one  of  the  horses,  and  the  other  five  being  led  by  lackeys  in 
rich  liveries. 

I  had  hoped  to  find  among  the  relics  and  antiquities  of  the 
count's  palace,  some  specimens  of  the  armor  and  weapons  of 
the  Moors  of  Granada,  such  as  I  had  heard  were  preserved  as 
trophies  by  the  descendants  of  the  Conquerors ;  but  in  this  I 
was  disappointed.  I  was  the  more  curious  in  this  particular, 
because  an  erroneous  idea  has  been  entertained  by  many,  as 
to  the  costumes  of  the  Moors  of  Spain  ;  supposing  them  to  be 
of  the  usual  Oriental  type.  On  the  contrary,  we  have  it  on 
the  authority  of  their  own  writers,  that  they  adopted  in  many 
respects  the  fashions  of  the  Christians.  The  turban,  especially, 
so  identified  in  idea  with  the  Moslem,  was  generally  abandoned, 
except  in  the  western  provinces,  where  it  continued  in  use 
among  people  of  rank  and  wealth,  and  those  holding  places 
under  government.  A  woollen  cap,  red  or  green,  was  com 
monly  worn  as  a  substitute ;  probably  the  same  kind  originat 
ing  in  Barbary,  and  known  by  the  name  of  Tunis  or  Fez, 
which  at  the  present  day  is  worn  throughout  the  East ;  though 
generally  under  the  turban.  The  Jews  were  obliged  to  wear 
them  of  a  yellow  color. 

In  Murcia,  Valencia,  and  other  eastern  provinces,  men  of 
the  highest  rank  might  be  seen  in  public  bareheaded.  The 
warrior  king,  Aben  Hud,  never  wore  a  turban,  neither  did  his 
rival  and  competitor,  Al  Hamar,  the  founder  of  the  Alhambra. 
A  short  cloak  called  Taylasan  similar  to  that  seen  in  Spain  in 
the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries,  was  worn  by  all 


THE  GENERALIFE.  133 

ranks.  It  had  a  hood  or  cape  which  people  of  condition 
sometimes  drew  over  the  head ;  but  the  lower  class  never. 

A  Moslem  cavalier  in  the  thirteenth  century,  as  described 
by  Ibnu  Said,  was  equipped  for  war  very  much  in  the  Chris 
tian  style.  Over  a  complete  suit  of  mail  he  wore  a  short  scar 
let  tunic.  His  helmet  was  of  polished  steel;  a  shield  was 
slung  at  his  back ;  he  wielded  a  huge  spear  with  a  broad 
point,  sometimes  a  double  point.  His  saddle  was  cumbrous, 
projecting  very  much  in  front  and  in  rear,  and  he  rode  with  a 
banner  fluttering  behind  him. 

In  the  time  of  Al  Khattib  of  Granada,  who  wrote  in  the 
fourteenth  century,  the  Moslems  of  Andalus  had  resumed  the 
Oriental  costumes,  and  were  again  clad  and  armed  in  Arabic 
fashion :  with  light  helmet,  thin  but  well  tempered  cuirass, 
long  slender  lance,  commonly  of  reed,  Arabian  saddle  and 
leathern  buckler,  made  of  double  folds  of  the  skin  of  the 
antelope.  A  wonderful  luxury  prevailed  at  that  time  in  the 
arms  and  equipments  of  the  Granadian  cavaliers.  Their 
armor  was  inlaid  with  gold  and  silver.  Their  cimeters  were 
of  the  keenest  Damascus  blades,  with  sheaths  richly  wrought 
and  enamelled,  and  belts  of  golden  filagree  studded  with 
gems.  Their  daggers  of  Fez  had  jewelled  hilts,  and  their 
lances  were  set  off  with  gay  banderoles.  Their  horses 
were  caparisoned  in  correspondent  style,  with  velvet  and 
embroidery. 

All  this  minute  description,  given  by  a  contemporary,  and 
an  author  of  distinction,  verifies  those  gallant  pictures  in  the 
old  Morisco-Spanish  ballads  which  have  sometimes  been 
deemed  apocryphal,  and  give  a  vivid  idea  of  the  brilliant 
appearance  of  the  chivalry  of  Granada,  when  marshalled  forth 
in  warlike  array,  or  when  celebrating  the  chivalrous  fetes  of 
the  Vivarrambla. 


THE   GENERALIFE. 

HIGH  above  the  Alhambra,  on  the  breast  of  the  mountain, 
amidst  embowered  gardens  and  stately  terraces,  rise  the  lofty 
towers  and  white  walls  of  the  Generalife ;  a  fairy  palace,  full 
of  storied  recollections.  Here  is  still  to  be  seen  the  famous 
cypresses  of  enormous  size  which  flourished  in  the  time  of  the 
Moors,  and  which  tradition  has  connected  with  the  fabulous 
story  of  Boabdil  and  his  sultana. 


134  THE  ALHAMBUA. 

Here  are  preserved  the  portraits  of  many  who  figured  in 
the  romantic  drama  of  the  Conquest.  Ferdinand  and  Isabella, 
Ponce  de  Leon,  the  gallant  marquis  of  Cadiz,  and  Garcilaso 
de  la  Vega,  who  slew  in  desperate  fight  Tarfe  the  Moor,  a 
champion  of  Herculean  strength.  Here  too  hangs  a  portrait 
which  has  long  passed  for  that  of  the  unfortunate  Boabdil. 
but  which  is  said  to  be  that  of  Aben  Hud,  the  Moorish  king 
from  whom  descended  the  princes  of  Almeria.  From  one  of 
these  princes,  who  joined  the  standard  of  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella  towards  the  close  of  the  Conquest,  and  was  christian 
ized  by  the  name  of  Don  Pedro  de  Granada  Venegas,  was 
descended  the  present  proprietor  of  the  palace,  the  marquis 
of  Carnpotejar.  The  proprietor,  however,  dwells  in  a  foreign 
land,  and  the  palace  has  no  longer  a  princely  inhabitant. 

Yet  here  is  everything  to  delight  a  southern  voluptuary  ; 
fruits,  flowers,  fragrance,  green  arbors  and  myrtle  hedges,  del 
icate  air  and  gushing  waters.  Here  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
witnessing  those  scenes  which  painters  are  fond  of  depicting 
about  southern  palaces  and  gardens.  It  was  the  saint's  day 
of  the  count's  daughter,  and  she  had  brought  up  several  of  her 
youthful  companions  from  Granada,  to  sport  away  a  long  sum 
mer's  day  among  the  breezy  halls  and  bowers  of  the  Moorish 
palaces.  A  visit  to  the  Generalife  was  the  morning's  enter 
tainment.  Here  some  of  the  gay  company  dispersed  itself  in 
groups  about  the  green  walks,  the  bright  fountains,  the  flights 
of  Italian  steps,  the  noble  terraces  and  marble  balustrades. 
Others,  among  whom  I  was  one,  took  their  seats  in  an  open 
gallery  or  colonnade  commanding  a  vast  prospect ;  with  the 
Alhambra,  the  city,  and  the  Vega,  far  below,  and  the  distant 
horizon  of  mountains  —  a  dreamy  world,  all  glimmering  to  the 
eye  in  summer  sunshine.  While  thus  seated,  the  all-pervad 
ing  tinkling  of  the  guitar  and  click  of  the  castanets  came 
stealing  up  from  the  valley  of  the  Darro,  and  half  way  down 
the  mountain  we  descried  a  festive  party  under  the  trees  en 
joying  themselves  in  true  Andalusian  style ;  some  lying  on 
the  grass,  others  dancing  to  the  music. 

All  these  sights  and  sounds,  together  with  the  princely 
seclusion  of  the  place,  the  sweet  quiet  which  prevailed  around, 
and  the  delicious  serenity  of  the  weather  had  a  witching  effect 
upon  the  mind,  and  drew  from  some  of  the  company,  versed 
in  local  story,  several  of  the  popular  fancies  and  traditions 
connected  with  this  old  Moorish  palace  ;  they  were  "  such 
stuff  as  dreams  are  made  of,"  but  out  of  them  I  have  shaped 
the  following  legend ;  which  I  hope  may  have  the  good  for 
tune  to  prove  acceptable  to  the  reader. 


LEGEND  OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL.         135 


LEGEND   OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL; 

OB, 

THE   PILGRIM  OF   LOVE. 

THERE  was  once  a  Moorish  King  of  Granada  who  had  but 
one  son,  whom  he  named  Ahmed,  to  which  his  courtiers  added 
the  surname  of  al  Kamel,  or  the  perfect,  from  the  indubitable 
signs  of  superexcellence  which  they  perceived  in  him  in  his 
very  infancy.  The  astrologers  countenanced  them  in  their 
foresight,  predicting  everything  in  his  favor  that  could  make 
a  perfect  prince  and  a  prosperous  sovereign.  One  cloud  only 
rested  upon  his  destiny,  and  even  that  was  of  a  roseate  hue. 
He  would  be  of  an  amorous  temperament,  and  run  great  perils 
from  the  tender  passion.  If,  however,  he  could  be  kept  from 
the  allurements  of  love  until  of  mature  age,  these  dangers 
would  be  averted,  and  his  life  thereafter  be  one  uninterrupted 
course  of  felicity. 

To  prevent  all  danger  of  the  kind,  the  king  wisely  deter 
mined  to  rear  the  prince  in  a  seclusion,  where  he  should  never 
see  a  female  face  nor  hear  even  the  name  of  love.  For  this 
purpose  he  built  a  beautiful  palace  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  above 
the  Alhambra,  in  the  midst  of  delightful  gardens,  but  sur 
rounded  by  lofty  walls  ;  being,  in  fact,  the  same  palace  known 
at  the  present  day  by  the  name  of  the  Generalife.  In  this 
palace  the  youthful  prince  was  shut  up  and  intrusted  to  the 
guardianship  and  instruction  of  Eben  Bonabben,  one  of  the 
wisest  and  dryest  of  Arabian  sages,  who  had  passed  the  great 
est  part  of  his  life  in  Egypt,  studying  hieroglyphics  and  mak 
ing  researches  among  the  tombs  and  pyramids,  and  who  saw 
more  charms  in  an  Egyptian  mummy  than  in  the  most  tempt 
ing  of  living  beauties.  The  sage  was  ordered  to  instruct  the 
prince  in  all  kinds  of  knowledge  but  one  —  he  was  to  be  kept 
utterly  ignorant  of  love  —  "  use  every  precaution  for  the  pur 
pose  you  may  think  proper,"  said  the  king,  "  but  remember, 
oh  Eben  Bonabben,  if  my  son  learns  aught  of  that  forbidden 


136  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

knowledge,  while  under  your  care,  your  head  shall  answer  for 
it."  A  withered  smile  came  over  the  dry  visage  of  the  wise 
Bonabben  at  the  menace.  "  Let  your  majesty's  heart  be  as 
easy  about  your  son  as  mine  is  about  my  head.  Am  I  a  man 
likely  to  give  lessons  in  the  idle  passion  ?  " 

Under  the  vigilant  care  of  the  philosopher,  the  prince  grew 
up  in  the  seclusion  of  the  palace  and  its  gardens.  He  had 
black  slaves  to  attend  upon  him  —  hideous  mutes,  who  knew 
nothing  of  love,  or  if  they  did,  had  not  words  to  communicate 
it.  His  mental  endowments  were  the  peculiar  care  of  Eben 
Bonabben,  who  sought  to  initiate  him  into  the  abstruse  lore 
of  Egypt,  but  in  this  the  prince  made  little  progress,  and  it 
was  soon  evident  that  he  had  no  turn  for  philosophy. 

He  was,  however,  amazingly  ductile  for  a  youthful  prince  ; 
ready  to  follow  any  advice  and  always  guided  by  the  last  coun 
cillor.  He  suppressed  his  yawns,  and  listened  patiently  to 
the  long  and  learned  discourses  of  Eben  Bonabben,  from  which 
he  imbibed  a  smattering  of  various  kinds  of  knowledge,  and 
thus  happily  attained  his  twentieth  year,  a  miracle  of  princely 
wisdom,  but  totally  ignorant  of  love. 

About  this  time,  however,  a  change  came  over  the  conduct 
of  the  prince.  He  completely  abandoned  his  studies  and  took 
to  strolling  about  the  gardens  and  musing  by  the  side  of  the 
fountains.  He  had  been  taught  a  little  music  among  his  va 
rious  accomplishments  ;  it  now  engrossed  a  great  part  of  his 
time,  and  a  turn  for  poetry  became  apparent.  The  sage  Eben 
Bonabben  took  the  alarm,  and  endeavored  to  work  these  idle 
hximors  out  of  him  by  a  severe  course  of  algebra;  but  the 
prince  turned  from  it  with  distaste.  "  I  cannot  endure  alge 
bra,"  said  he  ;  "  it  is  an  abomination  to  ma  I  want  something 
that  speaks  more  to  the  heart." 

The  sage  Eben  Bonabben  shook  his  dry  head  at  the  words. 
"Here's  an  end  to  philosoph}'."  thought  he.  "  The  prince  has 
discovered  he  has  a  heart !  "  He  now  kept  anxious  watch  upon 
his  pupil,  and  saw  that  the  latent  tenderness  of  his  nature  was 
in  activity,  and  only  wanted  an  object.  He  wandered  about 
the  gardens  of  the  Generalife  in  an  intoxication  of  feelings  of 
which  he  knew  not  the  cause.  Sometimes  he  would  sit  plunged 
in  a  delicious  revery ;  then  he  would  seize  his  lute  and  draw 
from  it  the  most  touching  notes,  and  then  throw  it  aside,  and 
break  forth  into  sighs  and  ejaculations. 

By  degrees  this  loving  disposition  began  to  extend  to  inani 
mate  objects ;  he  had  his  favorite  flowers  which  he  cherished 
with  tender  assiduity;  then  he  became  attached  to  various 


LEGEND  OF  PRINCE  AHMED   AL  KAMEL.         137 

trees,  and  there  was  one  in  particular,  of  a  graceful  form  and 
drooping  foliage,  on  which  he  lavished  his  amorous  devotion, 
carving  his  name  on  its  bark,  hanging  garlands  on  its  branches, 
and  singing  couplets  in  its  praise,  to  the  accompaniment  of  his 
lute. 

Eben  Bonabben  was  alarmed  at  this  excited  state  of  his 
pupil.  He  saw  him  on  the  very  brink  of  forbidden  knowledge 
—  the  least  hint  might  reveal  to  him  the  fatal  secret.  Trem 
bling  for  the  safety  of  the  prince,  and  the  security  of  his  own 
head,  he  hastened  to  draw  him  from  the  seductions  of  the  gar 
den,  and  shut  him  up  in  the  highest  tower  of  the  Generalife. 
It  contained  beautiful  apartments,  and  commanded  an  almost 
boundless  prospect,  but  was  elevated  far  above  that  atmos 
phere  of  sweets  and  those  witching  bowers  so  dangerous  to 
the  feelings  of  the  too  susceptible  Ahmed. 

What  was  to  be  done,  however,  to  reconcile  him  to  this 
restraint  and  to  beguile  the  tedious  hours  ?  He  had  ex 
hausted  almost  all  kinds  of  agreeable  knowledge ;  and  algebra 
was  not  to  be  mentioned.  Fortunately  Eben  Bonabben  had 
been  instructed,  when  in  Egypt,  in  the  language  of  birds,  by 
a  Jewish  Rabbin,  who  had  received  it  in  lineal  transmission 
from  Solomon  the  wise,  who  had  been  taught  it  by  the  Queen 
of  Sheba.  At  the  very  mention  of  such  a  study  the  eyes  of 
the  prince  sparkled  with  animation,  and  he  applied  himself  to 
it  with  such  avidity,  that  he  soon  became  as  great  an  adept  as 
his  master. 

The  tower  of  the  Generalife  was  no  longer  a  solitude  ;  he  had 
companions  at  hand  with  whom  he  could  converse.  The  first 
acquaintance  he  formed  was  with  a  hawk  who  had  built  his 
nest  in  a  crevice  of  the  lofty  battlements,  whence  he  soared 
far  and  wide  in  quest  of  prey.  The  prince,  however,  found 
little  to  like  or  esteem  in  him.  He  was  a  mere  pirate  of  the 
air,  swaggering  and  boastful,  whose  talk  was  all  about  rapine, 
and  carnage,  and  desperate  exploits. 

His  next  acquaintance  was  an  owl,  a  mighty  wise-looking 
bird,  with  a  huge  head  and  staring  eyes,  who  sat  blinking  and 
goggling  all  day  in  a  hole  in  the  wall,  but  roamed  forth  at 
night.  He  had  great  pretensions  to  wisdom  ;  talked  some 
thing  of  astrology  and  the  moon,  and  hinted  at  the  dark  sci 
ences  ;  he  was  grievously  given  to  metaphysics,  and  the  prince 
found  his  prosings  even  more  ponderous  than  those  of  the 
sage  Eben  Bonabben. 

Then  there  was  a  bat,  that  hung  all  day  by  his  heels  in  the 
dark  corner  of  a  vault,  but  sallied  out  in  slip-shod  style  at 


138  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

twilight.  He,  however,  had  but  twilight  ideas  on  all  subjects, 
derided  things  of  which  he  had  taken  but  an  imperfect  view, 
and  seemed  to  take  delight  in  nothing. 

Beside  these  there  was  a  swallow,  with  whom  the  prince 
was  at  first  much  taken.  He  was  a  smart  talker,  but 
restless,  bustling,  and  forever  on  the  wing ;  seldom  remaining 
long  enough  for  any  continued  conversation.  He  turned  out 
in  the  end  to  be  a  mere  smatterer,  who  did  but  skim  over  the 
surface  of  things,  pretending  to  know  everything,  but  know 
ing  nothing  thoroughly. 

These  were  the  only  feathered  associates  with  whom  the 
prince  had  any  opportunity  of  exercising  his  newly  acquired 
language  ;  the  tower  was  too  high  for  any  other  birds  to  fre 
quent  it.  He  soon  grew  weary  of  his  new  acquaintances, 
whose  conversation  spoke  so  little  to  the  head  and  nothing  to 
the  heart;  and  gradually  relapsed  into  his  loneliness.  A  win 
ter  passed  away,  spring  opened  with  all  its  bloom,  and  ver 
dure,  and  breathing  sweetness,  and  the  happy  time  arrived  for 
birds  to  pair  and  build  their  nests.  Suddenly,  as  it  were,  a 
universal  burst  of  song  and  melody  broke  forth  from  the 
groves  and  gardens  of  the  Generalife,  and  reached  the  prince 
in  the  solitude  of  his  tower.  From  every  side  he  heard  the 
same  universal  theme — love  —  love  —  love  —  chanted  forth 
and  responded  to  in  every  variety  of  note  and  tone.  The 
prince  listened  in  silence  and  perplexity.  "  What  can  be  this 
love,"  thought  he,  "  of  which  the  world  seems  so  full,  and  of 
which  I  know  nothing  ?  "  He  applied  for  information  to  his 
friend  the  hawk.  The  ruffian  bird  answered  in  a  tone  of  scorn. 
— "  You  must  apply,"  said  he,  "  to  the  vulgar,  peaceable 
birds  of  earth,  who  are  made  for  the  prey  of  us  princes  of  the 
air.  My  trade  is  war,  and  fighting  my  delight.  I  am  a  war 
rior,  and  know  nothing  of  this  thing  called  love." 

The  prince  turned  from  him  with  disgust,  and  sought  the  owl 
in  his  retreat.  "  This  is  a  bird,"  said  he,  "  of  peaceful  habits, 
and  may  be  able  to  solve  my  question."  So  he  asked  the  owl 
to  tell  him  what  was  this  love  about  which  all  the  birds  in 
the  groves  below  were  singing. 

Upon  this  the  owl  put  on  a  look  of  offended  dignity.  "  My 
nights,"  said  he,  "  are  taken  up  in  study  and  research,  and  my 
days  in  ruminating  in  my  cell  upon  all  that  I  have  learnt. 
As  to  these  singing  birds  of  whom  you  talk,  I  never  listen  to 
them.  I  despise  them  and  their  themes.  Allah  be  praised,  I 
cannot  sing.  I  am  a  philosopher,  and  know  nothing  of  this 
thing  called  love." 


LEGEND   OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL.          139 

The  prince  now  repaired  to  the  vault  where  his  friend  the 
bat  was  hanging  by  the  heels,  and  propounded  the  same  ques 
tion.  The  bat  wrinkled  up  his  nose  into  a  most  snappish 
expression.  •'  Why  do  you  disturb  me  in  my  morning's  nap 
with  such  an  idle  question  ?  "  said  he  peevishly.  "  I  only  fly 
by  twilight  when  all  birds  are  asleep,  and  never  trouble 
myself  with  their  concerns.  I  am  neither  bird  nor  beast,  and 
I  thank  heaven  for  it.  I  have  found  out  the  villany  of  the 
whole  of  them,  and  hate  them,  one  and  all.  In  a  word,  I  am 
a  misanthrope,  and  know  nothing  of  this  thing  called  love." 

As  a  last  resort,  the  prince  now  sought  the  swallow,  and 
stopped  him  just  as  he  was  circling  about  the  summit  of  the 
tower.  The  swallow  as  usual  was  in  a  prodigious  hurry,  and 
had  scarce  time  to  make  a  reply.  "  Upon  my  word,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  so  much  public  business  to  attend  to,  and  so  many 
pursuits  to  follow,  that  I  have  had  no  time  to  think  on  the 
subject.  I  have  every  day  a  thousand  visits  to  pay ;  a  thou 
sand  affairs  of  importance  to  examine  into,  that  leave  me  not 
a  moment  of  leisure  for  these  little  sing-song  matters.  In  a 
word,  I  am  a  citizen  of  the  world.  I  know  nothing  of  this 
thing  called  love."  So  saying,  the  swallow  dived  into  the  val 
ley  and  was  out  of  sight  in  a  moment. 

The  prince  remained  disappointed  and  perplexed,  but  with 
his  curiosity  still  more  piqued  by  the  difficulty  of  gratifying 
it.  While  in  this  mood  his  ancient  guardian  entered  the 
tower.  The  prince  advanced  eagerly  to  meet  him.  "  Oh  Eben 
Bonabben,"  cried  he,  "  thou  hast  revealed  to  me  much  of  the 
wisdom  of  the  earth,  but  there  is  one  thing  of  which  I  remain 
in  utter  ignorance,  and  would  fain  be  informed." 

"  My  prince  has  but  to  make  the  inquiry,  and  everything 
within  the  limited  range  of  his  servant's  intellect  is  at  his 
command." 

"  Tell  me  then,  oh  most  profound  of  sages,  what  is  the 
nature  of  this  thing  called  love  ?  " 

Eben  Bonabben  was  struck  as  with  a  thunderbolt.  He  trem 
bled  and  turned  pale,  and  felt  as  if  his  head  sat  but  loosely  on 
his  shoulders. 

"  What  could  suggest  such  a  question  to  my  prince  ?  — 
where  could  he  have  learnt  so  idle  a  word  ?  " 

The  prince  led  him  to  the  window  of  the  tower.  ';  Listen, 
oh  Eben  Bonabben  !  "  said  he.  The  sage  listened.  The  night 
ingale  sat  in  a  thicket  below  the  tower  singing  to  his  para 
mour,  the  rose ;  from  every  blossomed  spray  and  tufted  grove 
rose  a  strain  of  melody,  and  love  —  love  —  love,  was  still  the 


140  THE  ALHAMIiRA. 

unvarying  strain.  "  Allah  Akbar !  God  is  great !  "  exclaimed 
the  wise  Bonabben.  "  Who  shall  pretend  to  keep  this  secret 
from  the  heart  of  man  when  even  the  birds  of  the  air  con 
spire  to  betray  it  ?  " 

Then  turning  to  Ahmed,  "  Oh  my  prince,"  cried  he,  "  shut 
thine  ears  to  these  seductive  strains.  Close  thy  mind  against 
this  dangerous  knowledge.  Know  that  this  love  is  the  cause 
of  half  the  ills  of  wretched  mortality.  It  is  this  which  pro 
duces  bitterness  and  strife  between  brethren  and  friends ; 
which  causes  treacherous  murder  and  desolating  war.  Care 
and  sorrow,  weary  days  and  sleepless  nights,  are  its  attend 
ants.  It  withers  the  bloom  and  blights  the  joys  of  youth,  and 
brings  on  the  ills  and  griefs  of  premature  old  age.  Allah  pre 
serve  thee,  my  prince,  in  total  ignorance  of  this  thing  called 
love !  " 

The  sage  Eben  Bonabben  hastily  retired,  leaving  the  prince 
plunged  in  still  deeper  perplexity.  It  was  in  vain  he  at 
tempted  to  dismiss  the  subject  from  his  mind  ;  it  still  con 
tinued  uppermost  in  his  thoughts,  and  teased  and  exhausted 
him  with  vain  conjectures.  "  Surely,"  said  he  to  himself  as 
he  listened  to  the  tuneful  strains  of  the  birds,  "  there  is  no 
sorrow  in  those  notes  :  everything  seems  tenderness  and  joy. 
If  love  be  a  cause  of  such  wretchedness  and  strife,  why  are 
not  these  birds  drooping  in  solitude,  or  tearing  each  other  in 
pieces,  instead  of  fluttering  cheerfully  about  the  groves,  or 
sporting  with  each  other  among  flowers  ?  " 

He  lay  one  morning  on  his  couch  meditating  on  this  inex 
plicable  matter.  The  window  of  his  chamber  was  open  to 
admit  the  soft  morning  breeze  which  came  laden  with  the  per 
fume  of  orange  blossoms  from  the  valley  of  the  Darro.  The 
voice  of  the  nightingale  was  faintly  heard,  still  chanting  the 
wonted  theme.  As  the  prince  was  listening  and  sighing,  there 
was  a  sudden  rushing  noise  in  the  air ;  a  beautiful  dove,  pur 
sued  by  a  hawk,  darted  in  at  the  window  and  fell  panting  on 
the  floor ;  while  the  pursuer,  balked  of  his  prey,  soared  off  to 
the  mountains. 

The  prince  took  up  the  gasping  bird,  smoothed  its  feathers, 
and  nestled  it  in  his  bosom.  When  he  had  soothed  it  by  his 
caresses  he  put  it  in  a  golden  cage,  and  offered  it,  with  his 
own  hands,  the  whitest  and  finest  of  wheat  and  the  purest  of 
water.  The  bird,  however,  refused  food,  and  sat  drooping  and 
pining,  and  uttering  piteous  moans. 

"  What  aileth  thee  ?  "  said  Ahmed.  "  Hast  thou  not  every 
thing  thy  heart  can  wish  ?  " 


LEGEND   OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL.         141 

"  Alas,  no ! "  replied  the  dove,  "  am  I  not  separated  from 
the  partner  of  my  heart  —  and  that  too  in  the  happy  spring 
time  —  the  very  season  of  love  ?  " 

"  Of  love  !  "  echoed  Ahmed.  "  I  pray  thee,  my  pretty  bird, 
canst  thou  then  tell  me  what  is  love  ?  " 

"Too  well  can  I,  my  prince.  It  is  the  torment  of  one,  the 
felicity  of  two,  the  strife  and  enmity  of  three.  It  is  a  charm 
which  draws  two  beings  together,  and  unites  them  by  delicious 
sympathies,  making  it  happiness  to  be  with  each  other,  but 
misery  to  be  apart.  Is  there  no  being  to  whom  you  are  drawn 
by  these  ties  of  tender  affection  ?  " 

"I  like  my  old  teacher,  Eben  Bonabben,  better  than  any 
other  being ;  but  he  is  often  tedious,  and  I  occasionally  feel 
myself  happier  without  his  society." 

"  That  is  not  the  sympathy  I  mean.  I  speak  of  love,  the 
great  mystery  and  principle  of  life ;  the  intoxicating  revel  of 
youth  ;  the  sober  delight  of  age.  Look  forth,  my  prince,  and 
behold  how  at  this  blest  season  all  nature  is  full  of  love. 
Every  created  being  has  its  mate ;  the  most  insignificant  bird 
sings  to  its  paramour  ;  the  very  beetle  wooes  its  lady  beetle  in 
the  dust,  and  yon  butterflies  which  you  see  fluttering  high 
above  the  tower  and  toying  in  the  air  are  happy  in  each 
other's  loves.  Alas,  my  prince  !  hast  thou  spent  so  many  of 
the  precious  days  of  youth  without  knowing  anything  of  love  ? 
Is  there  no  gentle  being  of  another  sex ;  no  beautiful  princess, 
nor  lovely  damsel  who  has  ensnared  your  heart,  and  filled 
your  bosom  with  a  soft  tumult  of  pleasing  pains  and  tender 
wishes  ?  " 

"  I  begin  to  understand  ! "  said  the  prince,  sighing.  "  Such 
a  tumult  I  have  more  than  once  experienced  without  knowing 
the  cause ;  and  where  should  I  seek  for  an  object  such  as  you 
describe  in  this  dismal  solitude?" 

A  little  further  conversation  ensued,  and  the  first  amatory 
lesson  of  the  prince  was  complete. 

"  Alas  !  "  said  he,  "  if  love  be  indeed  such  a  delight,  and  its 
interruption  such  a  misery,  Allah  forbid  that  I  should  mar  the 
joy  of  any  of  its  votaries."  He  opened  the  cage,  took  out 
the  dove,  and,  having  fondly  kissed  it.  carried  it  to  the  win 
dow.  "  Go,  happy  bird,"  said  he,  "  rejoice  with  the  partner 
of  thy  heart  in  the  days  of  youth  and  spring-time.  Why 
should  I  make  thee  a  fellow-prisoner  in  this  dreary  tower, 
where  love  can  never  enter  ?  " 

The  dove  flapped  its  wings  in  rapture,  gave  one  vault  into 
the  air,  and  then  swooped  downward  on  whistling  wings  to 
the  blooming  bowers  of  the  Darro. 


142  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

The  prince  followed  him  with  his  eyes,  and  then  gave  way 
to  bitter  repining.  The  singing  of  the  birds  which  once 
delighted  him  now  added  to  his  bitterness.  Love  !  love  !  love ! 
Alas,  poor  youth,  he  now  understood  the  strain. 

His  eyes  flashed  fire  when  next  he  beheld  the  sage  Bonab- 
ben.  "  Why  hast  thou  kept  me  in  this  abject  ignorance?" 
cried  he.  "  Why  has  the  great  mystery  and  principle  of  life 
been  withheld  from  me,  in  which  I  find  the  meanest  insect  is 
so  learned  ?  Behold  all  nature  is  in  a  revel  of  delight.  Every 
created  being  rejoices  with  its  mate.  This  —  this  is  the  love 
about  which  I  have  sought  instruction ;  why  am  I  alone  de 
barred  its  enjoyment  ?  why  has  so  much  of  my  youth  been 
wasted  without  a  knowledge  of  its  rapture  ?  " 

The  sage  Bonabben  saw  that  all  further  reserve  was  useless, 
for  the  prince  had  acquired  the  dangerous  and  forbidden 
knowledge.  He  revealed  to  him,  therefore,  the  predictions  of 
the  astrologers,  and  the  precautions  that  had  been  taken  in 
his  education  to  avert  the  threatened  evils.  "And  now,  my 
prince,"  added  he,  "  my  life  is  in  your  hands.  Let  the  king 
your  father  discover  that  you  have  learned  the  passion  of  love 
while  under  my  guardianship,  and  my  head  must  answer  for 
it." 

The  prince. was  as  reasonable  as  most  young  men  of  his  age, 
and  easily  listened  to  the  remonstrances  of  his  tutor,  since 
nothing  pleaded  against  them.  Beside,  he  really  was  attached 
to  Eben  Bonabben,  and  being  as  yet  but  theoretically  ac 
quainted  with  the  passion  of  love,  he  consented  to  confine  the 
knowledge  of  it  to  his  own  bosom,  rather  than  endanger  the 
head  of  the  philosopher.  His  discretion  was  doomed,  how 
ever,  to  be  put  to  still  further  proofs.  A  few  mornings  after 
wards,  as  he  was  ruminating  on  the  battlements  of  the  tower, 
the  dove  which  had  been  released  by  him  came  hovering  in 
the  air,  and  alighted  fearlessly  upon  his  shoulder. 

The  prince  fondled  it  to  his  heart.  "  Happy  bird."  said  he, 
"  who  can  fly,  as  it  were,  with  the  wings  of  the  morning  to 
the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  Where  hast  thou  been 
since  we  parted  ?  " 

"  In  a  far  country,  my  prince  ;  whence  I  bring  you  tidings 
in  reward  for  my  liberty.  In  the  wide  compass  of  my  flight, 
which  extends  over  plain  and  mountain,  as  I  was  soaring  in 
the  air,  I  beheld  below  me  a  delightful  garden  with  all  kinds 
of  fruits  and  flowers.  It  was  in  a  green  meadow  on  the  banks 
of  a  wandering  stream,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  garden  was  a 
stately  palace.  I  alighted  in  one  of  the  bowers  to  repose 


LEGEND  OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL.  143 

after  my  weary  flight ;  on  the  green  bank  below  me  was  a 
youthful  princess  in  the  very  sweetness  and  bloom  of  her 
years.  She  was  surrounded  by  female  attendants,  young  like 
herself,  who  decked  her  with  garlands  and  coronets  of  flowers ; 
but  no  flower  of  field  or  garden  could  compare  with  her  for 
loveliness.  Here,  however,  she  bloomed  in  secret,  for  the 
garden  was  surrounded  by  high  walls,  and  no  mortal  man  was 
permitted  to  enter.  When  I  beheld  this  beauteous  maid  thus 
young,  and  innocent,  and  unspotted  by  the  world,  I  thought, 
here  is  the  being  formed  by  heaven  to  inspire  my  prince  with 
love." 

The  description  was  as  a  spark  of  fire  to  the  combustible 
heart  of  Ahmed ;  all  the  latent  amorousness  of  his  tempera 
ment  had  at  once  found  an  object,  and  he  conceived  an 
immeasurable  passion  for  the  princess.  He  wrote  a  letter 
couched  in  the  most  impassioned  language,  breathing  his  fer 
vent  devotion,  but  bewailing  the  unhappy  thraldom  of  his 
person,  which  prevented  him  from  seeking  her  out,  and  throw 
ing  himself  at  her  feet.  He  added  couplets  of  the  most  tender 
and  moving  eloquence,  for  he  was  a  poet  by  nature  and  inspired 
by  love.  He  addressed  his  letter,  "  To  the  unknown  beauty, 
from  the  captive  prince  Ahmed,"  then  perfuming  it  with  musk 
and  roses,  he  gave  it  to  the  dove. 

"Away,  trustiest  of  messengers,"  said  he.  "Fly  over 
mountain,  and  valley,  and  river,  and  plain  ;  rest  not  in  bower 
nor  set  foot  on  earth,  until  thou  hast  given  this  letter  to  the 
mistress  of  my  heart." 

The  dove  soared  high  in  air,  and  taking  his  course  darted 
away  in  one  undeviating  direction.  The  prince  followed  him 
with  his  eye  until  he  was  a  mere  speck  on  a  cloud,  and  gradu 
ally  disappeared  behind  a  mountain. 

Day  after  day  he  watched  for  the  return  of  the  messenger 
of  love ;  but  he  watched  in  vain.  He  began  to  accuse  him  of 
forgetfulness,  when  towards  sunset,  one  evening,  the  faithful 
bird  fluttered  into  his  apartment,  and,  falling  at  his  feet,  ex 
pired.  The  arrow  of  some  wanton  archer  had  pierced  his 
breast,  yet  he  had  struggled  with  the  lingerings  of  life  to  exe 
cute  his  mission.  As  the  prince  bent  with  grief  over  this 
gentle  martyr  to  fidelity,  he  beheld  a  chain  of  pearls  round 
his  neck,  attached  to  which,  beneath  his  wing,  was  a  small 
enamelled  picture.  It  represented  a  lovely  princess  in  the 
very  flower  of  her  years.  It  was,  doubtless,  the  unknown 
beauty  of  the  garden :  but  who  and  where  was  she  —  how  had 
she  received  his  letter  —  and  was  this  picture  sent  as  a  token 


144  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

of  her  approval  of  his  passion  ?  Unfortunately,  the  death  of 
the  faithful  dove  left  everything  in  mystery  and  doubt. 

The  prince  gazed  on  the  picture  till  his  eyes  swam  with 
tears.  He  pressed  it  to  his  lips  and  to  his  heart ;  he  sat  for 
hours  contemplating  it  almost  in  an  agony  of  tenderness. 
"  Beautiful  image  !  "  said  he.  "  Alas,  thou  art  but  an  image. 
Yet  thy  dewy  eyes  beam  tenderly  upon  me  ;  those  rosy  lips 
look  as  though  they  would  speak  encouragement.  Vain 
fancies !  Have  they  not  looked  the  same  on  some  more  happy 
rival  ?  But  where  in  this  wide  world  shall  I  hope  to  find  the 
original  ?  Who  knows  what  mountains,  what  realms  may 
separate  us  ?  What  adverse  chances  may  intervene  ?  Per 
haps  now,  even  now,  lovers  may  be  crowding  around  her, 
while  I  sit  here,  a  prisoner  in  a  tower,  wasting  my  time  in 
adoration  of  a  painted  shadow." 

The  resolution  of  prince  Ahmed  was  taken.  "  I  will  fly 
from  this  palace,"  said  he,  "  which  has  become  an  odious  prison, 
and,  a  pilgrim  of  love,  will  seek  this  unknown  princess  through 
out  the  world." 

To  escape  from  the  tower  in  the  day,  when  every  one  was 
awake,  might  be  a  difficult  matter  ;  but  at  night  the  palace 
was  slightly  guarded,  for  no  one  apprehended  any  attempt  of 
the  kind  from  the  prince,  who  had  always  been  so  passive  in 
his  captivity.  How  was  he  to  guide  himself,  however,  in  his 
darkling  flight,  being  ignorant  of  the  country  ?  He  bethought 
him  of  the  owl,  who  was  accustomed  to  roam  at  night,  and 
must  know  every  by-lane  and  secret  pass.  Seeking  him  in  his 
hermitage,  he  questioned  him  touching  his  knowledge  of  the 
land.  Upon  this  the  owl  put  on  a  mighty  self-important 
look. 

"  You  must  know,  0  prince,"  said  he,  "  that  we  owls  are  of 
a  very  ancient  and  extensive  famil}-,  though  rather  fallen  to 
decay,  and  possess  ruinous  castles  and  palaces  in  all  parts  of 
Spain.  There  is  scarcely  a  tower  of  the  mountains,  or  fortress 
of  the  plains,  or  an  old  citadel  of  a  city,  but  has  some  brother, 
or  uncle,  or  cousin  quartered  in  it ;  and  in  going  the  rounds 
to  visit  this  my  numerous  kindred  I  have  pryed  into  every 
nook  and  corner,  and  made  myself  acquainted  with  every 
secret  of  the  land." 

The  prince  was  overjoyed  to  find  the  owl  so  deeply  versed 
in  topography,  and  now  informed  him,  in  confidence,  of  his 
tender  passion  and  his  intended  elopement,  urging  him  to  be 
his  companion  and  counsellor. 

"  Go  to  !  "  said  the  owl,  with  a  look  of  displeasure.     "  Am 


LEGEND   OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL.          145 

I  a  bird  to  engage  in  a  love  affair ;  I  whose  whole  time  is 
devoted  to  meditation  and  the  moon !  " 

"  Be  not  offended,  most  solemn  owl ! "  replied  the  prince. 
"  Abstract  thyself  for  a  time  from  meditation  and  the  moon, 
and  aid  me  in  my  flight,  and  thou  shalt  have  whatever  heart 
can  wish." 

"  I  have  that  already,"  said  the  owl.  "  A  few  mice  are 
sufficient  for  my  frugal  table,  and  this  hole  in  the  wall  is  spa 
cious  enough  for  my  studies,  and  what  more  does  a  philosopher 
like  myself  desire  ?  " 

"  Bethink  thee,  most  wise  owl,  that  while  moping  in  thy 
cell  and  gazing  at  the  moon  all  thy  talents  are  lost  to  the 
world.  I  shall  one  day  be  a  sovereign  prince,  and  may  advance 
thee  to  some  post  of  honor  and  dignity." 

The  owl,  though  a  philosopher  and  above  the  ordinary 
wants  of  life,  was  not  above  ambition,  so  he  was  finally  pre 
vailed  on  to  elope  with  the  prince,  and  be  his  guide  and  Men 
tor  in  his  pilgrimage. 

The  plans  of  a  lover  are  promptly  executed.  The  prince 
collected  all  his  jewels,  and  concealed  them  about  his  person 
as  travelling  funds.  That  very  night  he  lowered  himself  by 
his  scarf  from  a  balcony  of  the  tower,  clambered  over  the 
outer  walls  of  the  Generalife,  and,  guided  by  the  owl,  made 
good  his  escape  before  morning  to  the  mountains. 

He  now  held  a  council  with  his  Mentor  as  to  his  future 
course. 

"Might  I  advise,"  said  the  owl,  "I  would  recommend  you 
to  repair  to  Seville.  You  must  know  that  many  years  since  I 
was  on  a  visit  to  an  uncle,  an  owl  of  great  dignity  and  power, 
who  lived  in  a  ruined  wing  of  the  Alcazar  of  that  place.  In 
my  hoverings  at  night  over  the  city,  I  frequently  remarked  a 
light  burning  in  a  lonely  tower.  At  length  I  alighted  on  the 
battlements,  and  found  it  to  proceed  from  the  lamp  of  an  Ara 
bian  magician.  He  was  surrounded  by  his  magic  books,  and 
on  his  shoulder  was  perched  his  familiar,  an  ancient  raven, 
who  had  come  with  him  from  Egypt.  I  became  acquainted 
with  that  raven,  and  owe  to  him  a  great  part  of  the  knowledge 
I  possess.  The  magician  is  since  dead,  but  the  raven  still  in 
habits  the  tower,  for  these  birds  are  of  wonderful  long  life.  I 
would  advise  you,  0  prince,  to  seek  that  raven,  for  he  is  a 
soothsayer  and  a  conjurer,  and  deals  in  the  black  art,  for  which 
all  ravens,  and  especially  those  of  Egypt,  are  renowned." 

The  prince  was  struck  with  the  wisdom  of  this  advice,  and 
accordingly  bent  his  course  towards  Seville.  He  travelled 


146  THE  ALHAMSRA. 

only  in  the  night,  to  accommodate  his  companion,  and  lay  by 
during  the  day  in  some  dark  cavern  or  mouldering  watch- 
tower,  for  the  owl  knew  every  hiding  hole  of  the  kind,  and 
had  a  most  antiquarian  taste  for  ruins. 

At  length,  one  morning  at  daybreak,  they  reached  the  city 
of  Seville,  where  the  owl,  who  hated  the  glare  and  bustle  of 
crowded  streets,  halted  without  the  gate,  and  took  up  his 
quarters  in  a  hollow  tree. 

The  prince  entered  the  gate,  and  readily  found  the  magic 
tower,  which  rose  above  the  houses  of  the  city  as  a  palm-tree 
rises  above  the  shrubs  of  the  desert.  It  was,  in  fact,  the  same 
tower  standing  at  the  present  day,  and  known  as  the  Giralda, 
the  famous  Moorish  tower  of  Seville. 

The  prince  ascended  by  a  great  winding  staircase  to  the 
summit  of  the  tower,  where  he  found  the  cabalistic  raven,  an 
old,  mysterious,  gray -headed  bird,  ragged  in  feather,  with  a 
film  over  one  eye  that  gave  him  the  glare  of  a  spectre.  He 
was  perched  on  one  leg,  with  his  head  turned  on  one  side,  por 
ing  with  his  remaining  eye  on  a  diagram  described  on  the 
pavement. 

The  prince  approached  him  with  the  awe  and  reverence 
naturally  inspired  by  his  venerable  appearance  and  supernatu 
ral  wisdom.  "  Pardon  me,  most  ancient  and  darkly  wise 
raven,"  exclaimed  he,  "if  for  a  moment  I  interrupt  those 
studies  which  are  the  wonder  of  the  world.  You  behold  be 
fore  you  a  votary  of  love,  who  would  fain  seek  your  counsel 
how  to  obtain  the  object  of  his  passion." 

"  In  other  words,"  said  the  raven,  with  a  significant  look. 
"  you  seek  to  try  my  skill  in  palmistry.  Come,  show  me  your 
hand,  and  let  me  decipher  the  mysterious  lines  of  fortune." 

"  Excuse  me,"  said  the  prince,  "  I  come  not  to  pry  into  the 
decrees  of  fate,  which  are  hidden  by  Allah  from  the  eyes  of 
mortals.  I  am  a  pilgrim  of  love,  and  seek  but  to  find  a  clew 
to  the  object  of  my  pilgrimage." 

"  And  can  you  be  at  any  loss  for  an  object  in  amorous 
Andalusia?"  said  the  old  raven,  leering  upon  him  with  his 
single  eye.  "  Above  all,  can  you  be  at  a  loss  in  wanton 
Seville,  where  black-eyed  damsels  dance  the  zambra  under 
every  orange  grove  ?  " 

The  prince -blushed,  and  was  somewhat  shocked  at  hearing 
an  old  bird,  with  one  foot  in  the  grave,  talk  thus  loosely. 
"Believe  me,"  said  he  gravely,  "  I  am  on  none  such  light  and 
vagrant  errand  as  thou  dost  insinuate.  The  black-eyed  dam 
sels  of  Andalusia  who  dance  among  the  orange  groves  of  the 


LEGEND   OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL.          147 

Guadalquiver,  are  as  naught  to  me.  I  seek  one  unknown  but 
immaculate  beauty,  the  original  of  this  picture,  and  I  beseech 
thee,  most  potent  raven,  if  it  be  within  the  scope  of  thy 
knowledge,  or  the  reach  of  thy  art,  inform  me  where  she  may 
be  found." 

The  gray -headed  raven  was  rebuked  by  the  gravity  of  the 
prince.  "  What  know  I,"  replied  he  dryly,  "  of  youth  and 
beauty  ?  My  visits  are  to  the  old  and  withered,  not  the  fresh 
and  fair.  The  harbinger  of  fate  am  I,  who  croak  bodings  of 
death  from  the  chimney  top,  and  flap  my  wings  at  the  sick 
man's  window.  You  must  seek  elsewhere  for  tidings  of  your 
unknown  beauty." 

"  And  where  can  I  seek,  if  not  among  the  sons  of  wisdom, 
versed  in  the  book  of  destiny  ?  Know  that  I  am  a  royal 
prince,  fated  by  the  stars,  and  sent  on  a  mysterious  enterprise, 
on  which  may  hang  the  destiny  of  empires." 

When  the  raven  heard  that  it  was  a  matter  of  vast  moment, 
in  which  the  stars  took  interest,  he  changed  his  tone  and 
manner,  and  listened  with  profound  attention  to  the  story  of 
the  prince.  When  it  was  concluded,  he  replied,  "  Touching 
this  princess,  I  can  give  thee  no  information  of  myself,  for 
my  flight  is  not  among  gardens  or  around  ladies'  bowers ;  but 
hie  thee  to  Cordova,  seek  the  palm-tree  of  the  great  Abderah- 
man,  which  stands  in  the  court  of  the  principal  mosque ;  at 
the  foot  of  it  thou  wilt  find  a  great  traveller,  who  has  visited 
all  countries  and  courts,  and  been  a  favorite  with  queens  and 
princesses.  He  will  give  thee  tidings  of  the  object  of  thy 
search." 

"  Many  thanks  for  this  precious  information,"  said  the 
prince.  "  Farewell,  most  venerable  conjurer." 

"  Farewell,  pilgrim  of  love,"  said  the  raven  dryly,  and  again 
fell  to  pondering  on  the  diagram. 

The  prince  sallied  forth  from  Seville,  sought  his  fellow- 
traveller  the  owl,  who  was  still  dozing  in  the  hollow  tree,  and 
set  off  for  Cordova. 

He  approached  it  along  hanging  gardens,  and  orange  and 
citron  groves  overlooking  the  fair  valley  of  the  Guadalquiver. 
When  arrived  at  its  gates,  the  owl  flew  up  to  a  dark  hole  in 
the  wall,  and  the  prince  proceeded  in  quest  of  the  palm-tree 
planted  in  days  of  yore  by  the  great  Abderahman.  It  stood 
in  the  midst  of  the  great  court  of  the  mosque,  towering  from 
amidst  orange  and  cypress  trees.  Dervises  and  Faquirs  were 
seated  in  groups  under  the  cloisters  of  the  court,  and  many  of 
the  faithful  were  performing  their  ablutions  at  the  fountains, 
before  entering  the  mosque. 


148  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

At  the  foot  of  the  palm-tree  was  a  crowd  listening  to  the 
words  of  one  who  appeared  to  be  talking  with  great  volubility. 
This,  said  the  prince  to  himself,  must  be  the  great  traveller 
who  is  to  give  me  tidings  of  the  unknown  princess.  He  min 
gled  in  the  crowd,  but  was  astonished  to  perceive  that  they 
were  all  listening  to  a  parrot,  who,  with  his  bright  green  coat, 
pragmatical  eye,  and  consequential  topknot,  had  the  air  of  a 
bird  on  excellent  terms  with  himself. 

"  How  is  this,"  said  the  prince  to  one  of  the  bystanders, 
"  that  so  many  grave  persons  can  be  delighted  with  the  garru 
lity  of  a  chattering  bird  ?  " 

"  You  know  not  whom  you  speak  of,"  said  the  other ;  "  this 
parrot  is  a  descendant  of  the  famous  parrot  of  Persia,  re 
nowned  for  his  story-telling  talent.  He  has  all  the  learning 
of  the  East  at  the  tip  of  his  tongue,  and  can  quote  poetry  as 
fast  as  he  can  talk.  He  has  visited  various  foreign  courts, 
where  he  has  been  considered  an  oracle  of  erudition.  He  has 
been  a  universal  favorite  also  with  the  fair  sex,  who  have  a 
vast  admiration  for  erudite  parrots  that  can  quote  poetry." 

"  Enough,"  said  the  prince,  "  I  will  have  some  private  talk 
with  this  distinguished  traveller." 

He  sought  a  private  interview,  and  expounded  the  nature  of 
his  errand.  He  had  scarcely  mentioned  it  when  the  parrot 
burst  into  a  fit  of  dry  rickety  laughter,  that  absolutely  brought 
tears  in  his  eyes.  "Excuse  my  merriment,"  said  he,  "  but  the 
mere  mention  of  love  always  sets  me  laughing." 

The  prince  was  shocked  at  this  ill-timed  mirth.  "Is  not 
love,"  said  he,  "  the  great  mystery  of  nature,  —  the  secret 
principle  of  life,  —  the  universal  bond  of  sympathy  ?  " 

"  A  fig's  end  ! "  cried  the  parrot,  interrupting  him.  "  Priy- 
tliee  where  hast  thou  learnt  this  sentimental  jargon  ?  Trust 
me,  love  is  quite  out  of  vogue;  one  never  hears  of  it  in  the 
company  of  wits  and  people  of  refinement." 

The  prince  sighed  as  he  recalled  the  different  language  of 
his  friend  the  dove.  But  this  parrot,  thought  he,  has  lived 
about  the  court ;  he  affects  the  wit  and  the  fine  gentleman ; 
he  knows  nothing  of  the  thing  called  love. 

Unwilling  to  provoke  any  more  ridicule  of  the  sentiment 
which  filled  his  heart,  he  now  directed  his  inquiries  to  the 
immediate  purport  of  his  visit. 

"  Tell  me."  said  he,  "  most  accomplished  parrot,  thou  who 
hast  everywhere  been  admitted  to  the  most  secret  bowers  of 
beauty,  hast  thou  in  the  course  of  thy  travels  met  with  the 
original  of  this  portrait  ?  " 


LEGEND   OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL   KAMEL.  149 

The  parrot  took  the  picture  in  his  claw,  turned  his  head 
from  side  to  side,  and  examined  it  curiously  with  either  eye. 
"  Upon  my  honor,"  said  he,  "  a  very  pretty  face  ;  very  pretty. 
But  then  one  sees  so  many  pretty  women  in  one's  travels  that 
one  can  hardly  —  but  hold  —  bless  me  !  now  I  look  at  it  again 
—  sure  enough,  this  is  the  princess  Aldegonda :  how  could  I 
forget  one  that  is  so  prodigious  a  favorite  with  me  ?  " 

"  The  princess  Aldegonda ! "  echoed  the  prince,  "  and  where 
is  she  to  be  found  ?  " 

"  Softly  —  softly.''  said  the  parrot,  "easier  to  be  found  than 
gained.  She  is  the  only  daughter  of  the  Christian  king  who 
reigns  at  Toledo,  and  is  shut  up  from  the  world  until  her 
seventeenth  birthday,  on  account  of  some  prediction  of  those 
meddlesome  fellows,  the  astrologers.  You'll  not  get  a  sight 
of  her,  no  mortal  man  can  see  her.  I  was  admitted  to  her 
presence  to  entertain  her,  and  I  assure  you,  on  the  word  of  a 
parrot  who  has  seen  the  world,  I  have  conversed  with  much 
sillier  princesses  in  my  time." 

"  A  word  in  confidence,  my  dear  parrot,"  said  the  prince. 
"  I  am  heir  to  a  kingdom,  and  shall  one  day  sit  upon  a  throne. 
I  see  that  you  are  a  bird  of  parts  and  understand  the  world. 
Help  me  to  gain  possession  of  this  princess  and  I  will  advance 
you  to  some  distinguished  place  about  court." 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  said  the  parrot;  "but  let  it  be  a  sine 
cure  if  possible,  for  we  wits  have  a  great  dislike  to  labor." 

Arrangements  were  promptly  made ;  the  prince  sallied  forth 
from  Cordova  through  the  same  gate  by  which  he  had  entered ; 
called  the  owl  down  from  the  hole  in  the  wall,  introduced  him 
to  his  new  travelling  companion  as  a  brother  savant,  and  away 
they  set  off  on  their  journey. 

They  travelled  much  more  slowly  than  accorded  with  the 
impatience  of  the  prince,  but  the  parrot  was  accustomed  to 
high  life,  and  did  not  like  to  be  disturbed  early  in  the  morn 
ing.  The  owl,  on  the  other  hand,  was  for  sleeping  at  midday, 
and  lost  a  greal  deal  of  time  by  his  long  siestas.  His  anti 
quarian  taste  also  was  in  the  way ;  for  he  insisted  on  pausing  and 
inspecting  every  ruin,  and  had  long  legendary  tales  to  tell 
about  every  old  tower  and  castle  in  the  country.  The  prince 
had  supposed  that  he  and  the  parrot,  being  both  birds  of  learn 
ing,  would  delight  in  each  other's  society,  but  never  had  he 
been  more  mistaken.  They  were  eternally  bickering.  The 
one  was  a  wit,  the  other  a  philosopher.  The  parrot  quoted 
poetry,  was  critical  on  new  readings,  and  eloquent  on  small 
points  of  erudition ;  the  owl  treated  all  such  knowledge  as 


150  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

trifling,  and  relished  nothing  but  metaphysics.  Then  the  par 
rot  would  sing  songs  and  repeat  bon-mots,  and  crack  jokes 
upon  his  solemn  neighbor,  and  laugh  outrageously  at  his  own 
wit ;  all  which  proceedings  the  owl  considered  as  a  grievous 
invasion  of  his  dignity,  and  would  scowl,  and  sulk,  and  swell, 
and  be  silent  for  a  whole  day  together. 

The  prince  heeded  not  the  wranglings  of  his  companions, 
being  wrapped  up  in  the  dreams  of  his  owii  fancy,  and  the 
contemplation  of  the  portrait  of  the  beautiful  princess.  In 
this  way  they  journeyed  through  the  stern  passes  of  the 
Sierra  Morena,  across  the  sunburnt  plains  of  La  Mancha  and 
Castile,  and  along  the  banks  of  the  "  Golden  Tagus,"  which 
winds  its  wizard  mazes  over  one  half  of  Spain  and  Portugal. 
At  length  they  came  in  sight  of  a  strong  city  with  walls  and 
towers,  built  on  a  rocky  promontory,  round  the  foot  of  which 
the  Tagus  circled  with  brawling  violence. 

"  Behold,"  exclaimed  the  owl,"  the  ancient  and  renowned  city 
of  Toledo ;  a  city  famous  for  its  antiquities.  Behold  those 
venerable  domes  and  towers,  hoary  with  time,  and  clothed 
with  legendary  grandeur ;  in  which  so  many  of  my  ancestors 
have  meditated  "  — 

"  Pish,"  cried  the  parrot,  interrupting  his  solemn  antiqua 
rian  rapture,  "  what  have  we  to  do  with  antiquities,  and 
legends,  and  your  ancestry  ?  Behold,  what  is  more  to  the 
purpose,  behold  the  abode  of  youth  and  beauty,  —  behold,  at 
length,  oh  prince,  the  abode  of  your  long-sought  princess." 

The  prince  looked  in  the  direction  indicated  by  the  parrot, 
and  beheld,  in  a  delightful  green  meadow  on  the  banks  of  the 
Tagus,  a  stately  palace  rising  from  amidst  the  bowers  of  a 
delicious  garden.  It  was  just  such  a  place  as  had  been  de 
scribed  by  the  dove  as  the  residence  of  the  original  of  the 
picture.  He  gazed  at  it  with  a  throbbing  heart :  "Perhaps  at 
this  moment,"  thought  he,  "  the  beautiful  princess  is  sporting 
beneath  those  shady  bowers,  or  pacing  with  delicate  step 
those  stately  terraces,  or  reposing  beneath  those  lofty  roofs ! " 
As  he  looked  more  narrowly,  lie  perceived  that  the  walls  of 
the  garden  were  of  great  height,  so  as  to  defy  access,  while 
numbers  of  armed  guards  patrolled  around  them. 

The  prince  turned  to  the  parrot.  "  Oh  most  accomplished 
of  birds,"  said  he,  "  thou  hast  the  gift  of  human  speech.  Hie 
thee  to  yon  garden;  seek  the  idol  of  my  soul,  and  tell  her 
that  prince  Ahmed,  a  pilgrim  of  love,  and  guided  by  the 
stars,  has  arrived  in  quest  of  her  on  the  flowery  banks  of 
the  Tagus." 


LEGEND    OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL.  151 

The  parrot,  proud  of  his  embassy,  flew  away  to  the  garden, 
mounted  above  its  lofty  walls,  and,  after  soaring  for  a  time 
over  the  lawns  and  groves,  alighted  on  the  balcony  of  a  pavil 
ion  that  overhung  the  river.  Here,  looking  in  at  the  case 
ment,  he  beheld  the  princess  reclining  on  a  couch,  with  her 
eyes  fixed  on  a  paper,  while  tears  gently  stole  after  each 
other  down  her  pallid  cheek. 

Pluming  his  wings  for  a  moment,  adjusting  his  bright 
green  coat,  and  elevating  his  topknot,  the  parrot  perched 
himself  beside  her  with  a  gallant  air ;  then  assuming  a  ten 
derness  of  tone,  — 

"  Dry  thy  tears,  most  beautiful  of  princesses,"  said  he,  "  I 
come  to  bring  solace  to  thy  heart." 

The  princess  was  startled  on  hearing  a  voice,  but  turning 
and  seeing  nothing  but  a  little  green-coated  bird  bobbing  and 
bowing  before  her :  "  Alas !  what  solace  canst  thou  yield," 
said  she,  "  seeing  thou  art  but  a  parrot  ?  " 

The  parrot  was  nettled  at  the  question.  "  I  have  consoled 
many  beautiful  ladies  in  my  time,"  said  he  ;  "  but  let  that  pass. 
At  present,  I  come  ambassador  from  a  royal  prince.  Know 
that  Ahmed,  the  prince  of  Granada,  has  arrived  in  quest  of 
thee,  and  is  encamped  even  now  on  the  flowery  banks  of  the 
Tagus." 

The  eyes  of  the  beautiful  princess  sparkled  at  these  words, 
even  brighter  than  the  diamonds  in  her  coronet.  "  0  sweetest 
of  parrots,"  cried  she,  "  joyful  indeed  are  thy  tidings ;  for  I 
was  faint,  and  weary,  and  sick  almost  unto  death,  with  doubt 
of  the  constancy  of  Ahmed.  Hie  thee  back,  and  tell  him  that 
the  words  of  his  letter  are  engraven  in  my  heart,  and  his 
poetry  has  been  the  food  of  my  soul.  Tell  him,  however,  that 
he  must  prepare  to  prove  his  love  by  force  of  arms;  to-morrow 
is  my  seventeenth  birthday,  when  the  king,  my  father,  holds  a 
great  tournament ;  several  princes  are  to  enter  the  lists,  and 
my  hand  is  to  be  the  prize  of  the  victor." 

The  parrot  again  took  wing,  and,  rustling  through  the  groves, 
flew  back  to  where  the  prince  awaited  his  return.  The  rap 
ture  of  Ahmed  on  finding  the  original  of  his  adored  portrait, 
and  finding  her  kind  and  true,  can  only  be  conceived  by  those 
favored  mortals  who  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  realize  day 
dreams,  and  turn  a  shadow  into  substance.  Still  there  was  one 
thing  that  alloyed  his  transport,  —  this  impending  tournament. 
In  fact,  the  banks  of  the  Tagus  were  already  glittering  with 
arms,  and  resounding  with  trumpets  of  the  various  knights, 
who  with  proud  retinues  were  prancing  on  towards  Toledo  to 


152  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

attend  the  ceremonial.  The  same  star  that  had  controlled  the 
destiny  of  the  prince,  had  governed  that  of  the  princess,  and 
until  her  seventeenth  birthday,  she  had  been  shut  up  from  the 
world,  to  guard  her  from  the  tender  passion.  The  fame  of  her 
charms,  however,  had  been  enhanced,  rather  than  obscured, 
by  this  seclusion.  Several  powerful  princes  had  contended 
for  her  hand,  and  her  father,  who  was  a  king  of  wondrous 
shrewdness,  to  avoid  making  enemies  by  showing  partiality, 
had  referred  them  to  the  arbitrament  of  arms.  Among  the 
rival  candidates,  were  several  renowned  for  strength  and  prow 
ess.  What  a  predicament  for  the  unfortunate  Ahmed,  unpro 
vided  as  he  was  with  weapons,  and  unskilled  in  the  exercise 
of  chivalry.  "  Luckless  prince  that  I  am  ! "  said  he,  "  to  have 
been  brought  up  in  seclusion,  under  the  eye  of  a  philosopher ! 
of  what  avail  are  algebra  and  philosophy  in  affairs  of  love  ! 
alas,  Eben  Bonabben,  why  hast  thou  neglected  to  instruct  me 
in  the  management  of  arms  ? "  Upon  this  the  owl  broke 
silence,  preluding  his  harangue  with  a  pious  ejaculation,  for 
he  was  a  devout  Mussulman  :  — 

"  Allah  Akbar  !  '  God  is  great,'  "  exclaimed  he,  "  in  his  hands 
are  all  secret  things,  he  alone  governs  the  destiny  of  princes  ! 
Know,  0  prince,  that  this  land  is  full  of  mysteries,  hidden 
from  all  but  those  who,  like  myself,  can  grope  after  knowl 
edge  in  the  dark.  Know  that  in  the  neighboring  mountains 
there  is  a  cave,  and  in  that  cave  there  is  an  iron  table,  and  on 
that  table  there  lies  a  suit  of  magic  armor,  and  beside  that 
table  there  stands  a  spellbound  steed,  which  have  been  shut 
up  there  for  many  generations." 

The  prince  stared  with  wonder,  while  the  owl  blinking  his 
huge  round  eyes  and  erecting  his  horns  proceeded :  — 

"Many  years  since,  I  accompanied  my  father  to  these  parts 
on  a  tour  of  his  estates,  and  we  sojourned  in  that  cave,  and 
thus  became  I  acquainted  with  the  mystery.  It  is  a  tradition 
in  our  family,  which  I  have  heard  from  my  grandfather  when 
I  was  yet  but  a  very  little  owlet,  that  this  armor  belonged  to 
a  Moorish  magician,  who  took  refuge  in  this  cavern  when 
Toledo  was  captured  by  the  Christians,  and  died  here,  leaving 
his  steed  and  weapons  under  a  mystic  spell,  never  to  be  used 
but  by  a  Moslem,  and  by  him  only  from  sunrise  to  mid-day. 
In  that  interval,  whoever  uses  them,  will  overthrow  every 
opponent." 

"Enough,  let  us  seek  this  cave,"  exclaimed  Ahmed. 

Guided  by  his  legendary  Mentor,  the  prince  found  the  cav 
ern,  which  was  in  one  of  the  wildest  recesses  of  those  rocky 


LEGEND  OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL.          153 

cliffs  which  rise  around  Toledo  ;  none  but  the  mousing  eye  of 
an  owl  or  an  antiquary  could  have  discovered  the  entrance  to 
it.  A  sepulchral  lamp  of  everlasting  oil  shed  a  solemn  light 
through  the  place.  On  an  iron  table  in  the  centre  of  the  cav 
ern  lay  the  magic  armor,  against  it  leaned  the  lance,  and  be 
side  it  stood  an  Arabian  steed,  caparisoned  for  the  field,  but 
motionless  as  a  statue.  The  armor  was  bright  and  unsullied, 
as  it  had  gleamed  in  days  of  old ;  the  steed  in  as  good  condi 
tion  as  if  just  from  the  pasture,  and  when  Ahmed  laid  his 
hand  upon  his  neck,  he  pawed  the  ground  and  gave  a  loud 
neigh  of  joy  that  shook  the  walls  of  the  cavern.  Thus  amply 
provided  with  "horse  and  rider  and  weapon  to  wear,"  the 
prince  determined  to  defy  the  field  in  the  impending  tourney. 

The  eventful  morning  arrived.  The  lists  for  the  combat 
were  prepared  in  the  vega  or  plain  just  below  the  cliff -built 
walls  of  Toledo,  where  stages  and  galleries  were  erected  for 
the  spectators,  covered  with  rich  tapestry  and  sheltered  from 
the  sun  by  silken  awnings.  All  the  beauties  of  the  land  were 
assembled  in  those  galleries,  while  below  pranced  plumed 
knights  with  their  pages  and  esquires,  among  whom  figured 
conspicuously  the  princes  who  were  to  contend  in  the  tourney. 
All  the  beauties  of  the  land,  however,  were  eclipsed,  when  the 
princess  Aldegonda  appeared  in  the  royal  pavilion,  and  for 
the  first  time  broke  forth  upon  the  gaze  of  an  admiring  world. 
A  murmur  of  wonder  ran  through  the  crowd  at  her  transcend 
ent  loveliness ;  and  the  princes  who  were  candidates  for  her 
hand  merely  on  the  faith  of  her  reported  charms,  now  felt 
tenfold  ardor  for  the  conflict. 

The  princess,  however,  had  a  troubled  look.  The  color  came 
and  went  from  her  cheek,  and  her  eye  wandered  with  a  restless 
and  unsatisfied  expression  over  the  plumed  throng  of  knights. 
The  trumpets  were  about  sounding  for  the  encounter  when  the 
herald  announced  the  arrival  of  a  strange  knight,  and  Ahmed 
rode  into  the  field.  A  steeled  helmet  studded  with  gems  rose 
above  his  turban ;  his  cuirass  was  embossed  with  gold ;  his 
cimeter  and  dagger  were  of  the  workmanship  of  Fez,  and 
flamed  with  precious  stones.  A  round  shield  was  at  his  shoul 
der,  and  in  his  hand  he  bore  the  lance  of  charmed  virtue.  The 
caparison  of  his  Arabian  steed  was  richly  embroidered,  and 
swept  the  ground ;  and  the  proud  animal  pranced  and  snuffed 
the  air,  and  neighed  with  joy  at  once  more  beholding  the  array 
of  arms.  The  lofty  and  graceful  demeanor  of  the  prince  struck 
every  eye,  and  when  his  appellation  was  announced,  "  The 
pilgrim  of  love,"  a  universal  flutter  and  agitation  prevailed 
amongst  the  fair  dames  in  the  galleries. 


154  THE  ALHAMBBA. 

When  Ahmed  presented  himself  at  the  lists,  however,  they 
were  closed  against  him ;  none  but  princes,  he  was  told,  were 
admitted  to  the  contest.  He  declared  his  name  and  rank. 
Still  worse,  he  was  a  Moslem,  and  could  not  engage  in  a  tour 
ney  where  the  hand  of  a  Christian  princess  was  the  prize. 

The  rival  princes  surrounded  him  with  haughty  and  men 
acing  aspects,  and  one  of  insolent  demeanor  and  Herculean 
frame  sneered  at  his  light  and  youthful  form,  and  scoffed  at 
his  amorous  appellation.  The  ire  of  the  prince  was  roused ; 
he  defied  his  rival  to  the  encounter.  They  took  distance, 
wheeled,  and  charged ;  and  at  the  first  touch  of  the  magic 
lance  the  brawny  scoffer  was  tilted  from  his  saddle.  Here  the 
prince  would  have  paused,  but  alas !  he  had  to  deal  with  a 
demoniac  horse  and  armor :  once  in  action,  nothing  could  con 
trol  them.  The  Arabian  steed  charged  into  the  thickest  of 
the  throng :  the  lance  overturned  everything  that  presented ; 
the  gentle  prince  was  carried  pell-mell  about  the  field,  strew 
ing  it  with  high  and  low,  gentle  and  simple,  and  grieving  at 
his  own  involuntary  exploits.  The  king  stormed  and  raged 
at  this  outrage  on  his  subjects  and  his  guests.  He  ordered 
out  all  his  guards  —  they  were  unhorsed  as  fast  as  they  came 
up.  The  king  threw  off  his  robes,  grasped  buckler  and  lance, 
and  rode  forth  to  awe  the  stranger  with  the  presence  of  maj 
esty  itself.  Alas,  majesty  fared  no  better  than  the  vulgar ; 
the  steed  and  lance  were  no  respecters  of  persons ;  to  the  dis 
may  of  Ahmed,  he  was  borne  full  tilt  against  the  king,  and  in 
a  moment  the  royal  heels  were  in  the  air,  and  the  crown  was 
rolling  in  the  dust. 

At  this  moment  the  sun  reached  the  meridian  ;  the  magic 
spell  resumed  its  power.  The  Arabian  steed  scoured  across 
the  plain,  leaped  the  barrier,  plunged  into  the  Tagus,  swam 
its  raging  current,  bore  the  prince,  breathless  and  amazed,  to 
the  cavern,  and  resumed  his  station  like  a  statue  beside  the 
iron  table.  The  prince  dismounted  right  gladly,  and  replaced 
the  armor,  to  abide  the  further  decrees  of  fate.  Then  seating 
himself  in  the  cavern,  he  ruminated  on  the  desperate  state  to 
which  this  demoniac  steed  and  armor  had  reduced  him.  Never 
should  he  dare  to  show  his  face  at  Toledo,  after  inflicting  such 
disgrace  upon  its  chivalry,  and  such  an  outrage  on  its  king. 
What,  too,  would  the  princess  think  of  so  rude  and  riotous  an 
achievement !  Full  of  anxiety,  he  sent  forth  his  winged  mes 
sengers  to  gather  tidings.  The  parrot  resorted  to  all  the  public 
places  and  crowded  resorts  of  the  city,  and  soon  returned  with 
a  world  of  gossip.  All  Toledo  was  in  consternation.  The 


LEGEND   OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL.          155 

princess  had  been  borne  off  senseless  to  the  palace  ;  the  tour 
nament  had  ended  in  confusion;  every  one  was  talking  of  the 
sudden  apparition,  prodigious  exploits,  and  strange  disappear 
ance  of  the  Moslem  knight.  Some  pronounced  him  a  Moorish 
magician ;  others  thought  him  a  demon  who  had  assumed  a 
human  shape;  while  others  related  traditions  of  enchanted 
warriors  hidden  in  the  caves  of  the  mountains,  and  thought  it 
might  be  one  of  these,  who  had  made  a  sudden  irruption  from 
his  den.  All  agreed  that  no  mere  ordinary  mortal  could  have 
wrought  such  wonders,  or  unhorsed  such  accomplished  and 
stalwart  Christian  warriors. 

The  owl  flew  forth  at  night,  and  hovered  about  the  dusky 
city,  perching  on  the  roofs  and  chimneys.  He  then  wheeled 
his  flight  up  to  the  royal  palace,  which  stood  on  a  rocky  sum 
mit  of  Toledo,  and  went  prowling  about  its  terraces  and 
battlements,  eaves-dropping  at  every  cranny,  and  glaring  in 
with  his  big  goggling  eyes  at  every  window  where  there  was 
a  light,  so  as  to  throw  two  or  three  maids  of  honor  into  fits. 
It  was  not  until  the  gray  dawn  began  to  peer  above  the 
mountains  that  he  returned  from  his  mousing  expedition,  and 
related  to  the  prince  what  he  had  seen. 

"  As  I  was  prying  about  one  of  the  loftiest  towers  of  the 
palace,"  said  he,  "  I  beheld  through  a  casement  a  beautiful 
princess.  She  was  reclining  on  a  couch,  with  attendants  and 
physicians  around  her,  but  she  would  none  of  their  ministry 
and  relief.  When  they  retired,  I  beheld  her  draw  forth  a 
letter  from  her  bosom,  and  read,  and  kiss  it,  and  give  way  to 
loud  lamentations  :  at  which,  philosopher  as  I  am,  I  could  but 
be  greatly  moved." 

The  tender  heart  of  Ahmed  was  distressed  at  these  tidings. 
"  Too  true  were  thy  words,  oh  sage  Eben  Bonabben  ! "  cried 
he.  "Care  and  sorrow,  and  sleepless  nights,  are  the  lot  of 
lovers.  Allah  preserve  the  princess  from  the  blighting  influ 
ence  of  this  thing  called  love." 

Further  intelligence  from  Toledo  corroborated  the  report  of 
the  owl.  The  city  was  a  prey  to  uneasiness  and  alarm.  The 
princess  was  conveyed  to  the  highest  tower  of  the  palace, 
every  avenue  to  which  was  strongly  guarded.  In  the  mean 
time,  a  devouring  melancholy  had  seized  upon  her,  of  which 
no  one  could  divine  the  cause.  She  refused  food,  and  turned 
a  deaf  ear  to  every  consolation.  The  most  skilful  physicians 
had  essayed  their  art  in  vain  ;  it  was  thought  some  magic 
spell  had  been  practised  upon  her,  and  the  king  made  procla 
mation,  declaring  that  whoever  should  effect  her  cure  should 
receive  the  richest  jewel  in  the  royal  treasury. 


156  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

When  the  owl.  who  was  dozing  in  a  corner,  heard  of  this 
proclamation,  he  rolled  his  large  eyes  and  looked  more  myste 
rious  than  ever. 

"  Allah  Akbar ! "  exclaimed  he.  "  Happy  the  man  that 
shall  effect  that  cure,  should  he  but  know  what  to  choose 
from  the  royal  treasury." 

"  What  mean  you,  most  reverend  owl  ?  "  said  Ahmed. 

"Hearken,  O  prince,  to  what  I  shall  relate.  We  owls,  you 
must  know,  are  a  learned  body,  and  much  given  to  dark  and 
dusty  research.  During  my  late  prowling  at  night  about  the 
domes  and  turrets  of  Toledo,  I  discovered  a  college  of  antiqua 
rian  owls,  who  hold  their  meetings  in  a  great  vaulted  tower 
where  the  royal  treasure  is  deposited.  Here  they  were  dis 
cussing  the  forms  and  inscriptions,  and  designs  of  ancient 
gems  and  jewels,  and  of  golden  and  silver  vessels,  heaped  up 
in  the  treasury,  the  fashion  of  every  country  and  age :  but 
mostly  they  were  interested  about  certain  relics  and  talis 
mans,  that  have  remained  in  the  treasury  since  the  time  of 
Roderick  the  Goth.  Among  these,  was  a  box  of  sandal-wood, 
secured  by  bands  of  steel  of  Oriental  workmanship,  and 
inscribed  with  mystic  characters  known  only  to  the  learned 
few.  This  box  and  its  inscription  had  occupied  the  college 
for  several  sessions,  and  had  caused  much  long  and  grave  dis 
pute.  At  the  time  of  my  visit,  a  very  ancient  owl,  who  had 
recently  arrived  from  Egypt,  was  seated  on  the  lid  of  the  box 
lecturing  upon  the  inscription,  and  he  proved  from  it.  that  the 
coffer  contained  the  silken  carpet  of  the  throne  of  Solomon 
the  wise :  which  doubtless  had  been  brought  to  Toledo  by  the 
Jews,  who  took  refuge  there  after  the  downfall  of  Jerusa 
lem." 

When  the  owl  had  concluded  his  antiquarian  harangue,  the 
prince  remained  for  a  time  absorbed  in  thought.  "  I  have 
heard,"  said  he,  "  from  the  sage  Eben  Bonabben,  of  the  won 
derful  properties  of  that  talisman,  which  disappeared  at  the 
fall  of  Jerusalem,  and  was  supposed  to  be  lost  to  mankind. 
Doubtless  it  remains  a  sealed  mystery  to  the  Christians  of 
Toledo.  If  I  can  get  possession  of  that  carpet,  my  fortune  is 
secure." 

The  next  day  the  prince  laid  aside  his  rich  attire,  and  ar 
rayed  himself  in  the  simple  garb  of  an  Arab  of  the  desert. 
He  dyed  his  complexion  to  a  tawny  huer  and  no  one  coulii 
have  recognized  in  him  the  splendid  warrior  who  had  caused 
such  admiration  and  dismay  at  the  tournament.  With  staff 
in  hand  and  scrip  by  his  side,  and  a  small  pastoral  reed,  he 


LEGEND   OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL.         157 

repaired  to  Toledo,  and  presenting  himself  at  the  gate  of  the 
royal  palace,  announced  himself  as  a  candidate  for  the  reward 
offered  for  the  cure  of  the  princess.  The  guards  would  have 
driven  him  away  with  blows :  "  What  can  a  vagrant  Arab  like 
thyself  pretend  to  do,"  said  they,  "  in  a  case  where  the  most 
learned  of  the  land  have  failed  ?  "  The  king,  however,  over 
heard  the  tumult,  and  ordered  the  Arab  to  be  brought  into 
his  presence. 

"  Most  potent  king,"  said  Ahmed,  "  you  behold  before  you 
a  Bedouin  Arab,  the  greater  part  of  whose  life  has  been  passed 
in  the  solitudes  of  the  desert.  Those  solitudes,  it  is  well 
known,  are  the  haunts  of  demons  and  evil  spirits,  who  beset 
us  poor  shepherds  in  our  lonely  watchings,  enter  into  and  pos 
sess  our  flocks  and  herds,  and  sometimes  render  even  the 
patient  camel  furious.  Against  these,  our  countercharm  is 
music ;  and  we  have  legendary  airs  handed  down  from  genera 
tion  to  generation,  that  we  chant  and  pipe  to  cast  forth  these 
evil  spirits.  I  am  of  a  gifted  line,  and  possess  this  power  in 
its  fullest  force.  If  it  be  any  evil  influence  of  the  kind  that 
holds  a  spell  over  thy  daughter,  I  pledge  my  bead  to  free  her 
from  its  sway." 

The  king,  who  was  a  man  of  understanding,  and  knew  the 
wonderful  secrets  possessed  by  the  Arabs,  was  inspired  with 
hope  by  the  confident  language  of  the  prince.  He  conducted 
him  immediately  to  the  lofty  tower  secured  by  several  doors, 
in  the  summit  of  which  was  the  chamber  of  the  princess.  The 
windows  opened  upon  a  terrace  with  balustrades,  commanding 
a  view  over  Toledo  and  all  the  surrounding  country.  The 
windows  were  darkened,  for  the  princess  lay  within,  a  prey  to 
a  devouring  grief  that  refused  all  alleviation. 

The  prince  seated  himself  on  the  terrace,  and  performed 
several  wild  Arabian  airs  on  his  pastoral  pipe,  which  he  had 
learnt  from  his  attendants  in  the  Generalife  at  Granada.  The 
princess  continued  insensible,  and  the  doctors,  who  were 
present,  shook  their  heads,  and  smiled  with  incredulity  and 
contempt.  At  length  the  prince  laid  aside  the  reed,  and  to  a 
simple  melody  chanted  the  amatory  verses  of  the  letter  which 
had  declared  his  passion. 

The  princess  recognized  the  strain.  A  fluttering  joy  stole 
to  her  heart ;  she  raised  her  head  and  listened ;  tears  rushed  to 
her  eyes  and  streamed  down  her  cheeks ;  her  bosom  rose  and 
fell  with  a  tumult  of  emotions.  She  would  have  asked  for  the 
minstrel  to  be  brought  into  her  presence,  but  maiden  coyness 
held  her  silent.  The  king  read  her  wishes,  and  at  his  command 


158  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

Ahmed  was  conducted  into  the  chamber.  The  lovers  were 
discreet :  they  but  exchanged  glances,  yet  those  glances  spoke 
volumes.  Never  was  triumph  of  music  more  complete.  The 
rose  had  returned  to  the  soft  cheek  of  the  princess,  the  fresh 
ness  to  her  lip,  and  the  dewy  light  to  her  languishing  eyes. 

All  the  physicians  present  stared  at  each  other  with  aston 
ishment.  The  king  regarded  the  Arab  minstrel  with  admira 
tion,  mixed  with  awe.  "Wonderful  youth,"  exclaimed  he, 
"  thou  shalt  henceforth  be  the  first  physician  of  my  court,  and  no 
other  prescription  will  I  take  but  thy  melody.  For  the  present, 
receive  thy  reward,  the  most  precious  jewel  in  my  treasury." 

"  0  king,"  replied  Ahmed,  "  I  care  not  for  silver,  or  gold,  or 
precious  stones.  One  relic  hast  thou  in  thy  treasury,  handed 
down  from  the  Moslems  who  once  owned  Toledo.  A  box  of 
sandalwood  containing  a  silken  carpet.  Give  me  that  box, 
and  I  am  content." 

All  present  were  surprised  at  the  moderation  of  the  Arab ; 
and  still  more,  when  the  box  of  sandalwood  was  brought  and 
the  carpet  drawn  forth.  It  was  of  fine  green  silk,  covered 
with  Hebrew  and  Chaldaic  characters.  The  court  physicians 
looked  at  each  other,  shrugged  their  shoulders,  and  smiled  at 
the  simplicity  of  this  new  practitioner,  who  could  be  content 
with  so  paltry  a  fee. 

"  This  carpet,"  said  the  prince,  "  once  covered  the  throne  of 
Solomon  the  wise ;  it  is  worthy  of  being  placed  beneath  the 
feet  of  beauty." 

So  saying,  he  spread  it  on  the  terrace  beneath  an  ottoman 
that  had  been  brought  forth  for  the  princess ;  then  seating 
himself  at  her  feet,  — 

"  Who,"  said  he,  "  shall  counteract  what  is  written  in  the 
book  of  fate  ?  Behold  the  prediction  of  the  astrologers  veri 
fied.  Know,  oh  king,  that  your  daughter  and  I  have  long 
loved  each  other  in  secret.  Behold  in  me  the  pilgrim  of  love." 

These  words  were  scarcely  from  his  lips,  when  the  carpet 
rose  in  the  air,  bearing  off  the  prince  and  princess.  The  king 
and  the  physicians  gazed  after  it  with  open  mouths  and  strain 
ing  eyes,  until  it  became  a  little  speck  on  the  white  bosom  of 
a  cloud,  and  then  disappeared  in  the  blue  vault  of  heaven. 

The  king  in  a  rage  summoned  his  treasurer.  "  How  is  this," 
said  he,  "  that  thou  hast  suffered  an  infidel  to  get  possession  of 
such  a  talisman  ?  " 

"Alas!  sire,  we  knew  not  its  nature,  nor  could  we  decipher 
the  inscription  of  the  box.  If  it  be  indeed  the  carpet  of  the 
throne  of  the  wise  Solomon,  it  is  possessed  of  magic  power. 


A   RAMBLE  AMONG   THE  HILLS.  159 

and  can  transport  its  owner  from  place  to  place  through  the 
air." 

The  king  assembled  a  mighty  army,  and  set  off  for  Granada 
in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives.  His  march  was  long  and  toilsome. 
Encamping  in  the  Vega,  he  sent  a  herald  to  demand  restitu 
tion  of  his  daughter.  The  king  himself  came  forth  with  all 
his  court  to  meet  him.  In  the  king,  he  beheld  the  real  min 
strel,  for  Ahmed  had  succeeded  to  the  throne  on  the  death  of 
his  father,  and  the  beautiful  Aldegonda  was  his  Sultana. 

The  Christian  king  was  easily  pacified,  when  he  found  that 
his  daughter  was  suffered  to  continue  in  her  faith :  not  that  he 
Avas  particularly  pious ;  but  religion  is  always  a  point  of  pride 
and  etiquette  with  princes.  Instead  of  bloody  battles,  there 
was  a  succession  of  feasts  and  rejoicings,  after  which  the  king 
returned  well  pleased  to  Toledo,  and  the  youthful  couple  con 
tinued  to  reign  as  happily  as  wisely,  in  the  Alhambra. 

It  is  proper  to  add,  that  the  owl  and  the  parrot  had  sever 
ally  followed  the  prince  by  easy  stages  to  Granada ;  the  former 
travelling  by  night,  and  stopping  at  the  various  hereditary 
possessions  of  his  family  ;  the  latter  figuring  in  gay  circles  of 
every  town  and  city  on  his  route. 

Ahmed  gratefully  requited  the  services  which  they  had 
rendered  on  his  pilgrimage.  He  appointed  the  owl  his  prime 
minister,  the  parrot  his  master  of  ceremonies.  It  is  needless 
to  say  that  never  was  a  realm  more  sagely  administered,  nor 
a  court  conducted  with  more  exact  punctilio. 


A   RAMBLE    AMONG   THE   HILLS. 

I  USED  frequently  to  amuse  myself  towards  the  close  of  the 
day,  when  the  heat  had  subsided,  with  taking  long  rambles 
about  the  neighboring  hills  and  the  deep  umbrageous  valleys, 
accompanied  by  my  historiographic  squire,  Mateo,  to  whose 
passion  for  gossiping  I  on  such  occasions  gave  the  most  un 
bounded  license;  and  there  was  scarce  a  rock,  or  ruin,  or 
broken  fountain,  or  lonely  glen,  about  which  he  had  not  some 
marvellous  story ;  or,  above  all,  some  golden  legend ;  for 
never  was  poor  devil  so  munificent  in  dispensing  hidden  treas 
ures. 

In  the  course  of  one  of  these  strolls  Mateo  was  more  than 
usually  communicative.  It  was  toward  sunset  that  we  sallied 


160  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

forth  from  the  great  Gate  of  Justice,  and  ascended  an  alley 
of  trees  until  we  came  to  a  clump  of  figs  and  pomegranates  at 
the  foot  of  the  Tower  of  the  Seven  Floors  (de  los  siete  suelos), 
the  identical  tower  whence  Boabdil  is  said  to  have  issued, 
when  he  surrendered  his  capital.  Here,  pointing  to  a  low 
archway  in  the  foundation,  Mateo  informed  me  of  a  monstrous 
sprite  or  hobgoblin,  said  to  infest  this  tower,  ever  since  the 
time  of  the  Moors,  and  to  guard  the  treasures  of  a  Moslem 
king.  Sometimes  it  issues  forth  in  the  dead  of  the  night,  and 
scours  the  avenues  of  the  Alhambra,  and  the  streets  of  Gra 
nada,  in  the  shape  of  a  headless  horse,  pursued  by  six  dogs 
with  terrible  yells  and  howlings. 

"  But  have  you  ever  met  with  it  yourself,  Mateo,  in  any  of 
your  rambles  ?  "  demanded  I. 

"  No,  Seflor,  God  be  thanked !  but  my  grandfather,  the 
tailor,  knew  several  persons  that  had  seen  it,  for  it  went  about 
much  oftener  in  his  time  than  at  present ;  sometimes  in  one 
shape,  sometimes  in  another.  Everybody  in  Granada  has 
heard  of  the  Belludo,  for  the  old  women  and  the  nurses 
frighten  the  children  with  it  when  they  cry.  Some  say  it  is 
the  spirit  of  a  cruel  Moorish  king,  who  killed  his  six  sons  and 
buried  them  in  these  vaults,  and  that  they  hunt  him  at  nights 
in  revenge." 

I  forbear  to  dwell  upon  the  marvellous  details  given  by  the 
simple-minded  Mateo  about  this  redoubtable  phantom,  which 
has,  in  fact,  been  time  out  of  mind  a  favorite  theme  of  nur 
sery  tales  and  popular  tradition  in  Granada,  and  of  which 
honorable  mention  is  made  by  an  ancient  and  learned  histo 
rian  and  topographer  of  the  place. 

Leaving  this  eventful  pile,  we  continued  our  course,  skirt 
ing  the  fruitful  orchards  of  the  Generalife,  in  which  two  or 
three  nightingales  were  pouring  forth  a  rich  strain  of  melody. 
Behind  these  orchards  we  passed  a  number  of  Moorish  tanks, 
with  a  door  cut  into  the  rocky  bosom  of  the  hill,  but  closed 
up.  These  tanks,  Mateo  informed  me,  were  favorite  bathing- 
places  of  himself  and  his  comrades  in  boyhood,  until  frightened 
away  by  a  story  of  a  hideous  Moor,  who  used  to  issue  forth 
from  the  door  in  the  rock  to  entrap  unwary  bathers. 

Leaving  these  haunted  tanks  behind  us,  we  pursued  our 
ramble  up  a  solitary  mule-path  winding  among  the  hills,  and 
soon  found  ourselves  amidst  wild  and  melancholy  mountains, 
destitute  of  trees,  and  here  and  there  tinted  with  scanty  ver 
dure.  Everything  within  sight  was  severe  and  sterile,  and 
it  was  scarcely  possible  to  realize  the  idea  that  but  a  short 


A   RAMBLE  AMONG    THE  HILLS.  161 

distance  behind  us  was  the  Generalife,  with  its  blooming 
orchards  and  terraced  gardens,  and  that  we  were  in  the  vicin 
ity  of  delicious  Granada,  that  city  of  groves  and  fountains. 
But  such  is  the  nature  of  Spain ;  wild  and  stern  the  moment 
it  escapes  from  cultivation ;  the  desert  and  the  garden  are 
ever  side  by  side. 

The  narrow  defile  up  which  we  were  passing  is  called, 
according  to  Mateo,  el  Barranco  de  la  tinaja,  or  the  ravine  of 
the  jar,  because  a  jar  full  of  Moorish  gold  was  found  here  in 
old  times.  The  brain  of  poor  Mateo  was  continually  running 
upon  these  golden  legends. 

"  But  what  is  the  meaning  of  the  cross  I  see  yonder  upon  a 
heap  of  stones,  in  that  narrow  part  of  the  ravine  ?  " 

"  Oh,  that's  nothing  —  a  muleteer  was  murdered  there  some 
years  since." 

"  So  then,  Mateo,  you  have  robbers  and  murderers  even  at 
the  gates  of  the  Alhambra  ?  " 

"  Not  at  present,  Senor ;  that  was  formerly,  when  there  used 
to  be  many  loose  fellows  about  the  fortress ;  but  they've  all 
been  weeded  out.  Not  but  that  the  gypsies  who  live  in  caves 
in  the  hill-sides,  just  out  of  the  fortress,  are  many  of  them  fit 
for  anything ;  but  we  have  had  no  murder  about  here  for  a 
long  time  past.  The  man  who  murdered  the  muleteer  was 
hanged  in  the  fortress." 

Our  path  continued  up  the  barranco,  with  a  bold,  rugged 
height  to  our  left,  called  the  "  Silla  del  Moro,"  or,  Chair  of 
the  Moor,  from  the  tradition  already  alluded  to,  that  the 
unfortunate  Boabdil  fled  thither  during  a  popular  insurrection, 
and  remained  all  day  seated  on  the  rocky  summit,  looking 
mournfully  down  on  his  factious  city. 

We  at  length  arrived  on  the  highest  part  of  the  promontory 
above  Granada,  called  the  mountain  of  the  sun.  The  evening 
was  approaching;  the  setting  sun  just  gilded  the  loftiest 
heights.  Here  and  there  a  solitary  shepherd  might  be  de 
scried  driving  his  flock  down  the  declivities,  to  be  folded  for 
the  night ;  or  a  muleteer  and  his  lagging  animals,  threading 
some  mountain  path,  to  arrive  at  the  city  gates  before  night 
fall. 

Presently  the  deep  tones  of  the  cathedral  bell  came  swell 
ing  up  the  defiles,  proclaiming  the  hour  of  "  oration "  or 
prayer.  The  note  was  responded  to  from  the  belfry  of  every 
church,  and  from  the  sweet  bells  of  the  convents  among  the 
mountains.  The  shepherd  paused  on  the  fold  of  the  hill, 
the  muleteer  in  the  midst  of  the  road,  each  took  off  his  hat 


162  THE  ALHAMERA. 

and  remained  motionless  for  a  time,  murmuring  his  evening 
prayer.  There  is  always  something  pleasingly  solemn  in  this 
custom,  \>j  which,  at  a  melodious  signal,  every  human  being 
throughout  the  land  unites  at  the  same  moment  in  a  tribute  of 
thanks  to  God  for  the  mercies  of  the  day.  It  spreads  a  tran 
sient  sanctity  over  the  land,  and  the  sight  of  the  sun  sinking 
in  all  his  glory,  adds  not  a  little  to  the  solemnity  of  the  scene. 

In  the  present  instance  the  effect  was  heightened  by  the 
wild  and  lonely  nature  of  the  place.  We  were  on  the  naked 
and  broken  summit  of  the  haunted  mountain  of  the  sun,  where 
ruined  tanks  and  cisterns,  and  the  mouldering  foundations  of 
extensive  buildings,  spoke  of  former  populousness,  but  where 
all  was  now  silent  and  desolate. 

As  we  were  wandering  about  among  these  traces  of  old  times, 
we  came  to  a  circular  pit,  penetrating  deep  into  the  bosom  of 
the  mountain  ;  which  Mateo  pointed  out  as  one  of  the  wonders 
and  mysteries  of  the  place.  I  supposed  it  to  be  a  well  dug  by 
the  indefatigable  Moors,  to  obtain  their  favorite  element  in 
its  greatest  purity.  Mateo,  however,  had  a  different  story,  and 
one  much  more  to  his  humor.  According  to  a  tradition,  in 
which  his  father  and  grandfather  firmly  believed,  this  was  an 
entrance  to  the  subterranean  caverns  of  the  mountain,  in  which 
Boabdil  and  his  court  lay  bound  in  magic  spell ;  and  whence 
they  sallied  forth  at  night,  at  allotted  times,  to  revisit  their 
ancient  abodes. 

"Ah,  Senor,  this  mountain  is  full  of  wonders  of  the  kind. 
In  another  place  there  was  a  hole  somewhat  like  this,  and  just 
within  it  hung  an  iron  pot  by  a  chain  ;  nobody  knew  what 
was  in  that  pot,  for  it  was  always  covered  up ;  but  everybody 
supposed  it  full  of  Moorish  gold.  Many  tried  to  draw  it  forth, 
for  it  seemed  just  within  reach ;  but  the  moment  it  was 
touched  it  would  sink  far,  far  down,  and  not  come  up  again 
for  some  time.  At  last  one  who  thought  it  must  be  enchanted 
touched  it  with  the  cross,  by  way  of  breaking  the  charm  ;  and 
faith  he  did  break  it,  for  the  pot  sank  out  of  sight  and  never 
was  seen  any  more. 

"  All  this  is  fact,  Senor  ;  for  my  grandfather  was  an  eye 
witness." 

"  What !   Mateo  ;  did  he  see  the  pot  ?  " 

"  No,  Senor,  but  he  saw  the  hole  where  the  pot  had  hung." 

"It's  the  same  thing,  Mateo." 

The  deepening  twilight,  which,  in  this  climate,  is  of  short 
duration,  admonished  us  to  leave  this  haunted  ground.  As  we 
descended  the  mountain  defile,  there  was  no  longer  herdsman 


A   RAMBLE  AMONG    THE  HILLS.  163 

nor  muleteer  to  be  seen,  nor  anything  to  be  heard  but  our  own 
footsteps  and  the  lonely  chirping  of  the  cricket.  The  shadows 
of  the  valley  grew  deeper  and  deeper,  until  all  was  dark  around 
us.  The  lofty  summit  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  alone  retained  a 
lingering  gleam  of  daylight ;  its  snowy  peaks  glaring  against 
the  dark  blue  firmament,  and  seeming  close  to  us,  from  the 
extreme  purity  of  the  atmosphere. 

"  How  near  the  Sierra  looks  this  evening  ! "  said  Mateo ; 
"  it  seems  as  if  you  could  touch  it  with  your  hand ;  and  yet 
it  is  many  long  leagues  off."  While  he  was  speaking,  a  star 
appeared  over  the  snowy  summit  of  the  mountain,  the  only 
one  yet  visible  in  the  heavens,  and  so  pure,  so  large,  so  bright 
and  beautiful,  as  to  call  forth  ejaculations  of  delight  from 
honest  Mateo. 

"  Que  estrella  hermosa  !  que  clara  y  limpia  es !  —  No  pueda 
ser  estrella  mas  brillante  ! " 

(What  a  beautiful  star !  how  clear  and  lucid  —  a  star  could 
not  be  more  brilliant !) 

I  have  often  remarked  this  sensibility  of  the  common  people 
of  Spain  to  the  charms  of  natural  objects.  The  lustre  of  a 
star,  the  beauty  or  fragrance  of  a  flower,  the  crystal  purity  of 
a  fountain,  will  inspire  them  with  a  kind  of  poetical  delight ; 
and  then,  what  euphonious  words  their  magnificent  language 
affords,  with  which  to  give  utterance  to  their  transports  ! 

"  But  what  lights  are  those,  Mateo,  which  I  see  twinkling 
along  the  Sierra  Nevada,  just  below  the  snowy  region,  and 
which  might  be  taken  for  stars,  only  that  they  are  ruddy,  and 
against  the  dark  side  of  the  mountain  ?  " 

"  Those,  Senor,  are  fires,  made  by  the  men  who  gather  snow 
and  ice  for  the  supply  of  Granada.  They  go  up  every  afternoon 
with  mules  and  asses,  and  take  turns,  some  to  rest  and  warm 
themselves  by  the  fires,  while  others  fill  the  panniers  with  ice. 
They  then  set  off  down  the  mountains,  so  as  to  reach  the  gates 
of  Granada  before  sunrise.  That  Sierra  Nevada,  Senor,  is  a 
lump  of  ice  in  the  middle  of  Andalusia,  to  keep  it  all  cool  in 
summer." 

It  was  now  completely  dark  ;  we  were  passing  through  the 
barrauco,  where  stood  the  cross  of  the  murdered  muleteer; 
when  I  beheld  a  number  of  lights  moving  at  a  distance,  and 
apparently  advancing  up  the  ravine.  On  nearer  approach, 
they  proved  to  be  torches  borne  by  a  train  of  uncouth  figures  ar 
rayed  in  black :  it  would  have  been  a  procession  dreary  enough 
at  any  time,  but  peculiarly  so  in  this  wild  and  solitary  place. 

Mateo  drew  near,  and  told  me,  in  a  low  voice,  that  it  was  a 


164  THE  ALHAM8RA. 

funeral  train  bearing  a  corpse  to  the  burying-ground  among 
the  hills. 

As  the  procession  passed  by,  the  lugubrious  light  of  the 
torches,  falling  on  the  rugged  features  and  funeral-weeds  of 
the  attendants,  had  the  most  fantastic  effect,  but  was  per 
fectly  ghastly,  as  it  revealed  the  countenance  of  the  corpse, 
which,  according  to  the  Spanish  custom,  was  borne  uncovered 
on  an  open  bier.  I  remained  for  some  time  gazing  after  the 
dreary  train  as  it  wound  up  the  dark  defile  of  the  mountain. 
It  put  me  in  mind  of  the  old  story  of  a  procession  of  demons 
bearing  the  body  of  a  sinner  up  the  crater  of  Stromboli. 

"  Ah !  Senor,"  cried  Mateo,  "  I  could  tell  you  a  story  of  a 
procession  once  seen  among  these  mountains,  but  then  you'd 
laugh  at  me,  and  say  it  was  one  of  the  legacies  of  my  grand 
father  the  tailor." 

"  By  no  means,  Mateo.  There  is  nothing  I  relish  more  than 
a  marvellous  tale." 

"  Well,  Senor,  it  is  about  one  of  those  very  men  we  have 
been  talking  of,  who  gather  snow  on  the  Sierra  Nevada. 

"  You  must  know,  that  a  great  many  years  since,  in  my 
grandfather's  time,  there  was  an  old  fellow,  Tio  Nieolo  (Uncle 
Nicholas)  by  name,  who  had  filled  the  panniers  of  his  mule 
with  snow  and  ice,  and  was  returning  down  the  mountain. 
Being  very  drowsy,  he  mounted  upon  the  mule,  and  soon  fall 
ing  asleep,  went  with  his  head  nodding  and  bobbing  about 
from  side  to  side,  while  his  sure-footed  old  mule  stepped  along 
the  edge  of  precipices,  and  down  steep  and  broken  barrancos, 
just  as  safe  and  steady  as  if  it  had  been  on  plain  ground.  At 
length,  Tio  Nicolo  awoke,  and  gazed  about  him,  and  rubbed 
his  eyes  —  and,  in  good  truth,  he  had  reason.  The  moon 
shone  almost  as  bright  as  day,  and  he  saw  the  city  below  him, 
as  plain  as  your  hand,  and  shining  with  its  white  buildings, 
like  a  silver  platter  in  the  moonshine  ;  but,  Lord !  Senor,  it 
was  nothing  like  the  city  he  had  left  a  few  hours  before  ! 
Instead  of  the  cathedral,  with  its  great  dome  and  turrets, 
and  the  churches  with  their  spires,  and  the  convents  with 
their  pinnacles,  all  surmounted  with  the  blessed  cross,  he  saw 
nothing  but  Moorish  mosques,  and  minarets,  and  cupolas,  all 
topped  off  with  glittering  crescents,  such  as  you  see  on  the 
Barbary  flags.  Well,  Senor,  as  you  may  suppose,  Tio  Nicolo 
was  mightily  puzzled  at  all  this,  but  while  he  was  gazing 
down  upon  the  city,  a  great  army  came  marching  up  the 
mountains,  winding  along  the  ravines,  sometimes  in  the  moon 
shine,  sometimes  in  the  shade.  As  it  drew  nigh,  he  saw  that 


A   RAMBLE  AMONG    THE  HILLS.  165 

there  were  horse  and  foot  all  in  Moorish  armor.  Tio  Nicolo 
tried  to  scramble  out  of  their  way,  but  his  old  mule  stood 
stock  still,  and  refused  to  budge,  trembling,  at  the  same  time, 
like  a  leaf  —  for  dumb  beasts,  Senor,  are  just  as  much  fright 
ened  at  such  things  as  human  beings.  Well,  Senor,  the  hob 
goblin  army  came  marching  by ;  there  were  men  that  seemed 
to  blow  trumpets,  and  others  to  beat  drums  and  strike  cym 
bals,  yet  never  a  sound  did  they  make ;  they  all  moved  on 
without  the  least  noise,  just  as  I  have  seen  painted  armies 
move  across  the  stage  in  the  theatre  of  Granada,  and  all 
looked  as  pale  as  death.  At  last,  in  the  rear  of  the  army, 
between  two  black  Moorish  horsemen,  rode  the  Grand  Inquis 
itor  of  Granada,  on  a  mule  as  white  as  snow.  Tio  Nicolo 
wondered  to  see  him  in  such  company,  for  the  Inquisitor  was 
famous  for  his  hatred  of  Moors,  and  indeed,  of  all  kinds  of  In 
fidels,  Jews,  and  Heretics,  and  used  to  hunt  them  out  with 
fire  and  scourge.  However,  Tio  Nicolo  felt  himself  safe,  now 
that  there  was  a  priest  of  such  sanctity  at  hand.  So  making 
the  sign  of  the  cross,  he  called  out  for  his  benediction,  when, 
hombre  !  he  received  a  blow  that  sent  him  and  his  old  mule 
over  the  edge  of  a  steep  bank,  down  which  they  rolled,  head  over 
heels,  to  the  bottom  !  Tio  Nicolo  did  not  come  to  his  senses 
until  long  after  sunrise,  when  he  found  himself  at  the  bottom 
of  a  deep  ravine,  his  mule  grazing  beside  him,  and  his  pan 
niers  of  snow  completely  melted.  He  crawled  back  to  Gra 
nada  sorely  bruised  and  battered,  but  was  glad  to  find  the  city 
looking  as  usual,  with  Christian  churches  and  crosses.  When 
he  told  the  story  of  his  night's  adventure,  every  one  laughed 
at  him  ;  some  said  he  had  dreamed  it  all,  as  he  dozed  on  his 
mule  ;  others  thought  it  all  a  fabrication  of  his  own  —  but  what 
was  strange,  Senor,  and  made  people  afterwards  think  more 
seriously  of  the  matter,  was,  that  the  Grand  Inquisitor  died 
within  the  year.  I  have  often  heard  my  grandfather,  the  tailor, 
say  that  there  was  more  meant  by  that  hobgoblin  army  bear 
ing  off  the  resemblance  of  the  priest,  than  folks  dared  to  sur 
mise." 

"Then  you  would  insinuate,  friend  Mateo,  that  there  is  a 
kind  of  Moorish  limbo,  or  purgatory,  in  the  bowels  of  these 
mountains,  to  whicli  the  padre  Inquisitor  was  borne  off." 

"God  forbid,  Senor!  I  know  nothing  of  the  matter.  I 
only  relate  what  I  heard  from  my  grandfather." 

By  the  time  Mateo  had  finished  the  tale  which  I  have  more 
succinctly  related,  and  which  was  interlarded  with  many  com 
ments,  and  spun  out  with  minute  details,  we  reached  the  gate 
of  the  Alhambra. 


166  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

The  marvellous  stories  hinted  at  by  Mateo,  ill  the  early  part 
of  our  ramble  about  the  Tower  of  the  Seven  Floors,  set  me  as 
usual  upon  my  goblin  researches.  I  found  that  the  redoubt 
able  phantom,  the  Belludo,  had  been  time  out  of  mind  a 
favorite  theme  of  nursery  tales  and  popular  traditions  in  Gra 
nada,  and  that  honorable  mention  had  even  been  made  of  it  by 
an  ancient  historian  and  topographer  of  the  place.  The  scat 
tered  members  of  one  of  these  popular  traditions  I  have 
gathered  together,  collated  them  with  infinite  pains,  and  di 
gested  them  into  the  following  legend  ;  which  only  wants  a 
number  of  learned  notes  and  references  at  bottom  to  take  its 
rank  among  those  concrete  productions  gravely  passed  upon 
the  world  for  Historical  Facts. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY. 

JUST  within  the  fortress  of  the  Alhambra,  in  front  of  the 
royal  palace,  is  a  broad  open  esplanade,  called  the  place  or 
square  of  the  cisterns,  (la  plaza  de  los  algibes,)  so  called  from 
being  undermined  by  reservoirs  of  water,  hidden  from  sight, 
and  which  have  existed  from  the  time  of  the  Moors.  At  one 
corner  of  this  esplanade  is  a  Moorish  well,  cut  through  the  liv 
ing  rock  to  a  great  depth,  the  water  of  which  is  cold  as  ice  and 
clear  as  crystal.  The  wells  made  by  the  Moors  are  always  in 
repute,  for  it  is  well  known  what  pains  they  took  to  penetrate 
to  the  purest  and  sweetest  springs  and  fountains.  The  one  of 
which  we  now  speak  is  famous  throughout  Granada,  insomuch 
that  water-carriers,  some  bearing  great  water-jars  on  their 
shoulders,  others  driving  asses  before  them,  laden  with  earthen 
vessels,  are  ascending  and  descending  the  steep  woody  avenues 
of  the  Alhambra  from  early  dawn  until  a  late  hour  of  the 
night. 

Fountains  and  wells,  ever  since  the  Scriptural  days,  have 
been  noted  gossiping  places  in  hot  climates,  and  at  the  well  in 
question  there  is  a  kind  of  perpetual  club  kept  up  during  the 
livelong  day,  by  the  invalids,  old  women,  and  other  curious, 
do-nothing  folk  of  the  fortress,  who  sit  here  on  the  stone 
benches  under  an  awning  spread  over  the  well  to  shelter  the 
toll-gatherer  from  the  sun,  and  dawdle  over  the  gossip  of  the 
fortress,  and  question  every  water-carrier  that  arrives  about 
the  news  of  the  city,  and  make  long  comments  on  everything 


LEGEND   OF   THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.  167 

they  hear  and  see.  Not  an  hour  of  the  day  but  .oitering 
housewives  and  idle  maid-servants  may  be  seen,  lingering 
with  pitcher  on  head  or  in  hand,  to  hear  the  last  of  the  end 
less  tattle  of  these  worthies. 

Among  the  water-carriers  who  once  resorted  to  this  well 
there  was  a  sturdy,  strong-backed,  bandy-legged  little  fellow, 
named  Pedro  Gil,  but  called  Peregil  for  shortness.  Being  a 
water-carrier,  he  was  a  Gallego,  or  native  of  Gallicia,  of  course. 
Nature  seems  to  have  formed  races  of  men  as  she  has  of 
animals  for  different  kinds  of  drudgery.  In  France  the  shoe 
blacks  are  all  Savoyards,  the  porters  of  hotels  all  Swiss,  and 
in  the  days  of  hoops  and  hair  powder  in  England,  no  man 
could  give  the  regular  swing  to  a  sedan  chair,  but  a  bog- 
trotting  Irishman.  So  in  Spain  the  carriers  of  water  and 
bearers  of  burdens  are  all  sturdy  little  natives  of  Gallicia. 
No  man  says,  "  Get  me  a  porter,"  but,  "  Call  a  Gallego." 

To  return  from  this  digression.  Peregil  the  Gallego  had 
begun  business  with  merely  a  great  earthen  jar,  which  he  car 
ried  upon  his  shoulder  ;  by  degrees  he  rose  in  the  world,  and 
was  enabled  to  purchase  an  assistant  of  a  correspondent  class 
of  animals,  being  a  stout  shaggy-haired  donkey.  On  each  side 
of  this  his  long-eared  aid-de-camp,  in  a  kind  of  pannier,  were 
slung  his  water-jars  covered  with  fig  leaves  to  protect  them 
from  the  sun.  There  was  not  a  more  industrious  water-carrier 
in  all  Granada,  nor  one  more  merry  withal.  The  streets  rang 
with  his  cheerful  voice  as  he  trudged  after  his  donkey,  singing 
forth  the  usual  summer  note  that  resounds  through  the  Spanish 
towns  :  "  Quien  quiere  agua —  agua  mas  fria  que  la  nieve.  — 
Who  wants  water  —  water  colder  than  snow  —  who  wants 
water  from  the  well  of  the  Alhambra —  cold  as  ice  and  clear 
as  crystal?"  When  he  served  a  customer  with  a  sparkling 
glass,  it  was  always  with  a  pleasant  word  that  caused  a  smile, 
and  if,  perchance,  it  was  a  comely  dame,  or  dimpling  damsel, 
it  was  always  with  a  sly  leer  and  a  compliment  to  her  beauty 
that  was  irresistible.  Thus  Peregil  the  Gallego  was  noted 
throughout  all  Granada  for  being  one  of  the  civilest,  pleasant- 
est,  and  happiest  of  mortals.  Yet  it  is  not  he  who  sings  loud 
est  and  jokes  most  that  has  the  lightest  heart.  Under  all  this 
air  of  merriment,  honest  Peregil  had  his  cares  and  troubles. 
He  had  a  large  family  of  ragged  children  to  support,  who  were 
hungry  and  clamorous  as  a  nest  of  young  swallows,  and  beset 
him  with  their  outcries  for  food  whenever  he  came  home  of 
an  evening.  He  had  a  helpmate,  too,  who  was  anything  but 
a  help  to  him.  She  had  been  a  village  beauty  before  marriage, 


168  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

noted  for  her  skill  at  dancing  the  bolero  and  rattling  the  cas 
tanets,  and  she  still  retained  her  early  propensities,  spending 
the  hard  earnings  of  honest  Peregil  in  frippery,  and  laying 
the  very  donkey  under  requisition  for  junketing  parties  into  the 
country  on  Sundays,  and  saints'  days,  and  those  innumerable 
holidays  which  are  rather  more  numerous  in  Spain  than  the 
days  of  the  week.  With  all  this  she  was  a  little  of  a  slattern, 
something  more  of  a  lie-a-bed,  and,  above  all,  a  gossip  of  the 
first  water ;  neglecting  house,  household,  and  everything  else, 
to  loiter  slip-shod  in  the  houses  of  her  gossip  neighbors. 

He,  however,  who  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb, 
accommodates  the  yoke  of  matrimony  to  the  submissive  neck. 
Peregil  bore  all  the  heavy  dispensations  of  wife  and  children 
with  as  meek  a  spirit  as  his  donkey  bore  the  water-jars ;  and, 
however  he  might  shake  his  ears  in  private,  never  ventured  to 
question  the  household  virtues  of  his  slattern  spouse. 

He  loved  his  children  too,  even  as  an  owl  loves  its  owlets, 
seeing  in  them  his  own  image  multiplied  and  perpetuated, 
for  they  were  a  sturdy,  long-backed,  bandy-legged  little  brood. 
The  great  pleasure  of  honest  Peregil  was,  whenever  he  could 
afford  himself  a  scanty  holiday  and  had  a  handful  of  inarave- 
dis  to  spare,  to  take  the  whole  litter  forth  with  him,  some  in 
his  arms,  some  tugging  at  his  skirts,  and  some  trudging  at  his 
heels,  and  to  treat  them  to  a  gambol  among  the  orchards  of 
the  Vega,  while  his  wife  was  dancing  with  her  holiday  friends 
in  the  angosturas  of  the  Darro. 

It  was  a  late  hour  one  summer  night,  and  most  of  the  water- 
carriers  had  desisted  from  their  toils.  The  day  had  been  un 
commonly  sultry ;  the  night  was  one  of  those  delicious  moon 
lights,  which  tempt  the  inhabitants  of  southern  climes  to 
indemnify  themselves  for  the  heat  and  inaction  of  the  day,  by 
lingering  in  the  open  air  and  enjoying  its  tempered  sweetness 
until  after  midnight.  Customers  for  water  were  therefore 
still  abroad.  Peregil,  like  a  considerate,  painstaking  father, 
thought  of  his  hungry  children.  "  One  more  journey  to  the 
well,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  to  earn  a  Sunday's  pucchro  for 
the  little  ones."  So  saying,  he  trudged  manfully  up  the  steep 
avenue  of  the  Alhambra,  singing  as  he  went,  and  now  and 
then  bestowing  a  hearty  thwack  with  a  cudgel  on  the  flanks 
of  his  donkey,  either  by  way  of  cadence  to  the  song,  or 
refreshment  to  the  animal :  for  dry  blows  serve  in  lieu  of 
provender  in  Spain,  for  all  beasts  of  burden. 

When  arrived  at  the  well,  he  found  it  deserted  by  every  one 
except  a  solitary  stranger  in  Moorish  garb,  seated  on  a  stone 


LEGEND   OF   THE  MOOR'S  LEG  ACT.  169 

bench  in  the  moonlight.  Peregil  paused  at  first,  and  regarded 
him  with  surprise,  not  unmixed  with  awe,  but  the  Moor  feebly 
beckoned  him  to  approach. 

"  I  am  faint  and  ill,"  said  he ;  "  aid  me  to  return  to  the  city, 
and  I  will  pay  thee  double  what  thou  couldst  gain  by  thy  jars 
of  water." 

The  honest  heart  of  the  little  water-carrier  was  touched 
with  compassion  at  the  appeal  of  the  stranger.  "  God  for 
bid,"  said  he,  "  that  I  should  ask  fee  or  reward  for  doing  a 
common  act  of  humanity." 

He  accordingly  helped  the  Moor  on  his  donkey,  and  set  off 
slowly  for  Granada,  the  poor  Moslem  being  so  weak  that  it 
was  necessary  to  hold  him  on  the  animal  to  keep  him  from 
falling  to  the  earth. 

When  they  entered  the  city,  the  water-carrier  demanded 
whither  he  should  conduct  him.  "Alas!"  said  the  Moor, 
faintly,  "  I  have  neither  home  nor  habitation.  I  am  a  stranger 
in  the  land.  Suffer  me  to  lay  my  head  this  night  beneath  thy 
roof,  and  thou  shall  be  amply  repaid." 

Honest  Peregil  thus  saw  himself  unexpectedly  saddled  with 
an  infidel  guest,  but  he  was  too  humane  to  refuse  a  night's 
shelter  to  a  fellow-being  in  so  forlorn  a  plight ;  so  he  con 
ducted  the  Moor  to  his  dwelling.  The  children,  who  had 
sallied  forth,  open-mouthed  as  usual,  on  hearing  the  tramp  of 
the  donkey,  ran  back  with  affright,  when  they  beheld  the 
turbaned  stranger,  and  hid  themselves  behind  their  mother. 
The  latter  stepped  forth  intrepidly,  like  a  ruffling  hen  before 
her  brood,  when  a  vagrant  dog  approaches. 

"What  infidel  companion,"  cried  she,  "is  this  you  have 
brought  home  at  this  late  hour,  to  draw  upon  us  the  eyes  of 
the  I  nquisition  ?  " 

"  Be  quiet,  wife,"  replied  the  Gallego,  "  here  is  a  poor  sick 
stranger,  without  friend  or  home  :  wouldst  thou  turn  him 
forth  to  perish  in  the  streets  ?  " 

The  wife  would  still  have  remonstrated,  for,  although  she 
lived  in  a  hovel,  she  was  a  furious  stickler  for  the  credit  of 
her  house  ;  the  little  water-carrier,  however,  for  once  was 
stiff-necked,  and  refused  to  bend  beneath  the  yoke.  He 
assisted  the  poor  Moslem  to  alight,  and  spread  a  mat  and  a 
sheepskin  for  him,  on  the  ground,  in  the  coolest  part  of  the 
house ;  being  the  only  kind  of  bed  that  his  poverty  afforded. 

In  a  little  while  the  Moor  was  seized  with  violent  convul 
sions,  which  defied  all  the  ministering  skill  of  the  simple 
water-carrier.  The  eye  of  the  poor  patient  acknowledged  his 


170  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

kindness.  During  an  interval  of  his  fits  he  called  him  to  his 
side,  and  addressing  him  in  a  low  voice ;  "  My  end,"  said  he,  "  I 
fear  is  at  hand.  If  I  die  I  bequeath  you  this  box  as  a  reward 
for  your  charity."  So  saying,  he  opened  his  albornoz,  or  cloak, 
and  showed  a  small  box  of  sandal-wood,  strapped  round  his 
body. 

'•  God  grant,  my  friend,"  replied  the  worthy  little  G-allego, 
"that  you  may  live  many  years  to  enjoy  your  treasure,  what 
ever  it  may  be." 

The  Moor  shook  his  head ;  he  laid  his  hand  upon  the  box. 
and  would  have  said  something  more  concerning  it,  but  his  con 
vulsions  returned  with  increased  violence,  and  in  a  little  while 
he  expired. 

The  water-carrier's  wife  was  now  as  one  distracted.  "This 
comes,"  said  she,  "of  your  foolish  good-nature,  always  running 
into  scrapes  to  oblige  others.  What  will  become  of  us  when 
this  corpse  is  found  in  our  house  ?  We  shall  be  sent  to  prison 
as  murderers ;  and  if  we  escape  with  our  lives,  shall  be  ruined 
by  notaries  and  alguazils." 

Poor  Peregil  was  in  equal  tribulation,  and  almost  repented 
himself  of  having  done  a  good  deed.  At  length  a  thought 
struck  him.  "It  is  not  yet  day,"  said  he.  "I  can  convey 
the  dead  body  out  of  the  city  and  bury  it  in  the  sands  on  the 
banks  of  the  Xenil.  No  one  saw  the  Moor  enter  our  dwelling, 
and  no  one  will  know  anything  of  his  death."  So  said,  so 
done.  The  wife  aided  him.  They  rolled  the  body  of  the  un 
fortunate  Moslem  in  the  mat  on  which  he  had  expired,  laid  it 
across  the  ass,  and  Peregil  set  out  with  it  for  the  banks  of  the 
river. 

As  ill  luck  would  have  it,  there  lived  opposite  to  the  water- 
carrier  a  barber,  named  Pedrillo  Pedrugo,  one  of  the  most 
prying,  tattling,  mischief-making,  of  his  gossip  tribe.  He  was 
a  weasel-faced,  spider-legged  varlet,  supple  and  insinuating ; 
the  famous  Barber  of  Seville  could  not  surpass  him  for  his 
universal  knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  others,  and  he  had  no 
more  power  of  retention  than  a  sieve.  It  was  said  that  he 
slept  but  with  one  eye  at  a  time,  and  kept  one  ear  uncovered, 
so  that,  even  in  his  sleep,  he  might  see  and  hear  all  that  was 
going  on.  Certain  it  is,  he  was  a  sort  of  scandalous  chronicle 
for  the  quidnuncs  of  Granada,  and  had  more  customers  than  all 
the  rest  of  his  fraternity. 

This  meddlesome  barber  heard  Peregil  arrive  at  an  unusual 
hour  at  night,  and  the  exclamations  of  his  wife  and  children. 
His  head  was  instantly  popped  out  of  a  little  window  which 


LEGEND   OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.  171 

served  him  as  a  lookout,  and  he  saw  his  neighbor  assist  a  man 
in  Moorish  garb  into  his  dwelling.  This  was  so  strange  an 
occurrence  that  Pedrillo  Pedrugo  slept  not  a  wink  that  night 
—  every  tive  minutes  he  was  at  his  loophole,  watching  the 
lights  that  gleamed  through  the  chinks  of  his  neighbor's  door, 
and  before  daylight  he  beheld  Peregil  sally  forth  with  his 
donkey  unusually  laden. 

The  inquisitive  barber  was  in  a  fidget ;  he  slipped  on  his 
clothes,  and,  stealing  forth  silently,  followed  the  water-carrier 
at  a  distance,  until  he  saw  him  dig  a  hole  in  the  sandy  bank 
of  the  Xenil,  and  bury  something  that  had  the  appearance  of 
a  dead  body. 

The  barber  hied  him  home  and  fidgeted  about  his  shop,  set 
ting  everything  upside  down,  until  sunrise.  He  then  took  a 
basin  under  his  arm,  and  sallied  forth  to  the  house  of  his  daily 
customer,  the  Alcalde. 

The  Alcalde  was  just  risen.  Pedrillo  Pedrugo  seated  him  in 
a  chair,  threw  a  napkin  round  his  neck,  put  a  basin  of  hot 
water  under  his  chin,  and  began  to  mollify  his  beard  with  his 
fingers. 

"  Strange  doings,"  said  Pedrugo,  who  played  barber  and 
newsmonger  at  the  same  time.  "  Strange  doings  !  Robbery, 
and  murder,  and  burial,  all  in  one  night ! " 

"  Hey  ?  how  !     What  is  that  you  say  ?  "  cried  the  Alcalde. 

"  I  say,"  replied  the  barber,  rubbing  a  piece  of  soap  over  the 
nose  and  mouth  of  the  dignitary,  for  a  Spanish  barber  disdains 
to  employ  a  brush  ;  "  I  say  that  Peregil  the  Gallego  has  robbed 
and  murdered  a  Moorish  Mussulman,  and  buried  him  this 
blessed  night,  —  maldita  sea  la  noche,  — accursed  be  the  night 
for  the  same  ! " 

"  But  how  do  you  know  all  this  ?  "  demanded  the  Alcalde. 

"  Be  patient,  Senor,  and  you  shall  hear  all  about  it,"  replied 
Pedrillo,  taking  him  by  the  nose  and  sliding  a  razor  over  his 
cheek.  He  then  recounted  all  that  he  had  seen,  going  through 
both  operations  at  the  same  time,  shaving  his  beard,  washing 
his  chin,  and  wiping  him  dry  with  a  dirty  napkin,  while  he  was 
robbing,  murdering,  and  burying  the  Moslem. 

Now  it  so  happened  that  this  Alcalde  was  one  of  the  most 
overbearing,  and  at  the  same  time  most  griping  and  corrupt 
curmudgeons  in  all  Granada.  It  could  not  be  denied,  however, 
that  he  set  a  high  value  upon  justice,  for  he  sold  it  at  its  weight 
in  gold.  He  presumed  the  case  in  point  to  be  one  of  murder 
and  robbery  ;  doubtless  there  must  be  rich  spoil ;  how  was  it 
to  be  secured  into  the  legitimate  hands  of  the  law  ?  for  as  to 


172  THE  ALHAMBEA. 

merely  entrapping  the  delinquent  —  that  would  be  feeding  the 
gallows:  but  entrapping  the  booty  —  that  would  be  enriching 
the  judge ;  and  such,  according  to  his  creed,  was  the  great  end 
of  justice.  So  thinking,  he  summoned  to  his  presence  his 
trustiest  alguazil ;  a  gaunt,  hungry-looking  varlet,  clad,  accord 
ing  to  the  custom  of  his  order,  in  the  ancient  Spanish  garb  — 
a  broad  black  beaver,  turned  up  at  its  sides ;  a  quaint  ruff,  a 
small  black  cloak  dangling  from  his  shoulders;  rusty  black 
under-clothes  that  set  off  his  spare  wiry  frame ;  while  in  his 
hand  he  bore  a  slender  white  wand,  the  dreaded  insignia  of  his 
office.  Such  was  the  legal  bloodhound  of  the  ancient  Spanish 
breed,  that  he  put  upon  the  traces  of  the  unlucky  water-car 
rier  ;  and  such  was  his  speed  and  certainty  that  he  was  upon 
the  haunches  of  poor  Peregil  before  he  had  returned  to  his 
dwelling,  and  brought  both  him  and  his  donkey  before  the  dis 
penser  of  justice. 

The  Alcalde  bent  upon  him  one  of  the  most  terrific  frowns. 
"  Hark  ye,  culprit,"  roared  he  in  a  voice  that  made  the  knees 
of  the  little  Gallego  smite  together,  —  "  Hark,  ye  culprit !  there 
is  no  need  of  denying  thy  guilt:  everything  is  known  to  me. 
A  gallows  is  the  proper  reward  for  the  crime  thou  hast  com 
mitted,  but  I  am  merciful,  and  readily  listen  to  reason.  The 
man  that  has  been  murdered  in  thy  house  was  a  Moor,  an  infi 
del,  the  enemy  of  our  faith.  It  was  doubtless  in  a  fit  of  reli 
gious  zeal  that  thou  hast  slain  him.  I  will  be  indulgent, 
therefore  ;  render  up  the  property  of  which  thou  hast  robbed 
him,  and  we  will  hush  the  matter  up." 

The  poor  water-carrier  called  upon  all  the  saints  to  witness 
his  innocence ;  alas  !  not  one  of  them  appeared,  and  if  they 
had,  the  Alcalde  would  have  disbelieved  the  whole  calendar. 
The  water-carrier  related  the  whole  story  of  the  dying  Moor 
with  the  straightforward  simplicity  of  truth,  but  it  was  all  in 
vain  :  "  Wilt  thou  persist  in  saying,"  demanded  the  judge, 
"that  this  Moslem  had  neither  gold  nor  jewels,  which  were  the 
object  of  thy  cupidity  ?  " 

"  As  I  hope  to  be  saved,  your  worship,"  replied  the  water- 
carrier,  "  he  had  nothing  but  a  small  box  of  sandal-wood,  which 
he  bequeathed  to  me  in  reward  for  my  services." 

"  A  box  of  sandal-wood  !  a  box  of  sandal-wood  ! "  exclaimed 
the  Alcalde,  his  eyes  sparkling  at  the  idea  of  precious  jewels, 
"  and  where  is  this  box  ?  where  have  you  concealed  it  ?  " 

"  An'  it  please  your  grace,"  replied  the  water-carrier,  "  it  is 
in  one  of  the  panniers  of  my  mule,  and  heartily  at  the  service 
of  your  worship." 


LEGEND   OF   THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.  173 

He  had  hardly  spoken  the  words  when  the  keen  alguazil 
darted  off  and  reappeared  iu  aii  instant  with  the  mysterious 
box  of  saudalwood.  The  Alcalde  opened  it  with  an  eager  and 
trembling  hand  ;  all  pressed  forward  to  gaze  upon  the  treasure 
it  was  expected  to  contain ;  when,  to  their  disappointment, 
nothing  appeared  within  but  a  parchment  scroll,  covered  with 
Arabic  characters,  and  an  end  of  a  waxen  taper  ! 

When  there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  the  conviction  of  a 
prisoner,  justice,  even  in  Spain,  is  apt  to  be  impartial.  The 
Alcalde,  having  recovered  from  his  disappointment  and  found 
that  there  was  really  no  booty  in  the  case,  now  listened  dis 
passionately  to  the  explanation  of  the  water-carrier,  which 
was  corroborated  by  the  testimony  of  his  wife.  Being  con 
vinced,  therefore,  of  his  innocence,  he  discharged  him  from 
arrest ;  nay  more,  he  permitted  him  to  carry  off  the  Moor's 
legacy,  the  box  of  sandalwood  and  its  contents,  as  the  well- 
merited  reward  of  his  humanity  ;  but  he  retained  his  donkey 
in  payment  of  cost  and  charges. 

Behold  the  unfortunate  little  Gallego  reduced  once  more  to 
the  necessity  of  being  his  own  water-carrier,  and  trudging  up 
to  the  well  of  the  Alhambra  with  a  great  earthen  jar  upon  his 
shoulder.  As  he  toiled  up  the  hill  in  the  heat  of  a  summer 
noon  his  usual  good-humor  forsook  him.  "  Dog  of  an  Alcalde ! " 
would  he  cry,  "  to  rob  a  poor  man  of  the  means  of  his  subsist 
ence —  of  the  best  friend  he  had  in  the  world!"  And  then, 
at  the  remembrance  of  the  beloved  companion  of  his  labors, 
all  the  kindness  of  his  nature  would  break  forth.  "  Ah,  don 
key  of  my  heart ! "  would  he  exclaim,  resting  his  burden  on  a 
stone,  and  wiping  the  sweat  from  his  brow,  "  Ah,  donkey  of 
my  heart !  I  warrant  me  thou  thinkest  of  thy  old  master !  I 
warrant  me  thou  missest  the  water-jars  —  poor  bea'st ! " 

To  add  to  his  afflictions  his  wife  received  him,  on  his  return 
home,  with  whimperings  and  repinings ;  she  had  clearly  the 
vantage-ground  of  him,  having  warned  him  not  to  commit  the 
egregious  act  of  hospitality  which  had  brought  on  him  all 
these  misfortunes,  and  like  a  knowing  woman,  she  took  every 
occasion  to  throw  her  superior  sagacity  in  his  teeth.  If  her 
children  lacked  food,  or  needed  a  new  garment,  she  could  an 
swer  with  a  sneer,  "  Go  to  your  father ;  he  is  heir  to  king 
Chico  of  the  Alhambra.  Ask  him  to  help  you  out  of  the 
Moor's  strong  box." 

Was  ever  poor  mortal  so  soundly  punished,  for  having  done 
a  good  action !  The  unlucky  Peregil  was  grieved  in  flesh  and 
spirit,  but  still  he  bore  meekly  with  the  railings  of  his  spouse. 


174  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

At  length  one  evening,  when,  after  a  hot  day's  toil,  she  taunted 
him  in  the  usual  manner,  he  lost  all  patience.  He  did  not 
venture  to  retort  upon  her,  but  his  eye  rested  upon  the  box  of 
sandalwood,  which  lay  on  a  shelf  with  lid  half  open,  as  if 
laughing  in  mockery  at  his  vexation.  Seizing  it  up  he  dashed 
it  with  indignation  to  the  floor.  "  Unlucky  was  the  day  that 
I  ever  set  eyes  on  thee,"  he  cried,  "or  sheltered  thy  master 
beneath  my  roof." 

As  the  box  struck  the  floor  the  lid  flew  wide  open,  and  the 
parchment  scroll  rolled  forth.  Peregil  sat  regarding  the  scroll 
for  sometime  in  moody  silence.  At  length  rallying  his  ideas, 
"Who  knows,"  thought  he,  "but  this  writing  may  be  of  some 
importance,  as  the  Moor  seems  to  have  guarded  it  with  such 
care."  Picking  it  up.  therefore,  he  put  it  in  his  bosom,  and 
the  next  morning,  as  he  was  crying  water  through  the  streets, 
he  stopped  at  the  shop  of  a  Moor,  a  native  of  Tangiers,  who 
sold  trinkets  and  perfumery  in  the  Zacatin,  and  asked  him  to 
explain  the  contents. 

The  Moor  read  the  scroll  attentively,  then  stroked  his  beard 
and  smiled.  "This  manuscript,"  said  he,  "  is  a  form  of  incan 
tation  for  the  recovery  of  hidden  treasure,  that  is  under  the 
power  of  enchantment.  It  is  said  to  have  such  virtue  that  the 
strongest  bolts  and  bars,  nay  the  adamantine  rock  itself  will 
yield  before  it." 

"  Bah ! "  cried  the  little  Gallego,  "  what  is  all  that  to  me  ? 
I  am  no  enchanter,  and  know  nothing  of  buried  treasure."  So 
saying  he  shouldered  his  water-jar,  left  the  scroll  in  the  hands 
of  the  Moor,  and  trudged  forward  on  his  daily  rounds. 

That  evening,  however,  as  he  rested  himself  about  twilight 
at  the  well  of  the  Alhambra,  he  found  a  number  of  gossips  as 
sembled  at  the  place,  and  their  conversation,  as  is  not  unusual 
at  that  shadowy  hour,  turned  upon  old  tales  and  traditions  of 
a  supernatural  nature.  Being  all  poor  as  rats,  they  dwelt  with 
peculiar  fondness  upon  the  popular  theme  of  enchanted  riches 
left  by  the  Moors  in  various  parts  of  the  Alhambra.  Above 
all,  they  concurred  in  the  belief  that  there  were  great  treas 
ures  buried  deep  in  the  earth  under  the  tower  of  the  Seven 
Floors. 

These  stories  made  an  unusual  impression  on  the  mind  of 
the  honest  Peregil,  and  they  sank  deeper  and  deeper  into  his 
thoughts  as  he  returned  alone  down  the  darkling  avenues. 
"If,  after  all,  there  should  be  treasure  hid  beneath  that  tower 
—  and  if  the  scroll  I  left  with  the  Moor  should  enable  me  to 
get  at  it ! "  In  the  sudden  ecstasy  of  the  thought  lie  had 
well-nigh  let  fall  his  water-jar. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.  175 

That  night  he  tumbled  and  tossed,  and  could  scarcely  get  a 
wink  of  sleep  for  the  thoughts  that  were  bewildering  his 
brain.  Bright  and  early,  he  repaired  to  the  shop  of  the  Moor, 
and  told  him  all  that  was  passing  in  his  mind.  "You  can 
read  Arabic,"  said  he,  "  suppose  we  go  together  to  the  tower 
and  try  the  effect  of  the  charm ;  if  it  fails  we  are  no  worse  off 
than  before,  but  if  it  succeeds  we  will  share  equally  all  the 
treasure  we  may  discover." 

"Hold,"  replied  the  Moslem,  "this  writing  is  not  sufficient 
of  itself;  it  must  be  read  at  midnight,  by  the  light  of  a  taper 
singularly  compounded  and  prepared,  the  ingredients  of  which 
are  not  within  my  reach.  Without  such  a  taper  the  scroll  is 
of  no  avail." 

"  Say  no  more ! "  cried  the  little  Gallego.  "  I  have  such  a 
taper  at  hand  and  will  bring  it  here  in  a  moment."  So  saying 
he  hastened  home,  and  soon  returned  with  the  end  of  yellow 
wax  taper  that  he  had  found  in  the  box  of  sandal-wood. 

The  Moor  felt  it,  and  smelt  to  it.  "  Here  are  rare  and 
costly  perfumes,"  said  he,  "combined  with  this  yellow  wax. 
This  is  the  kind  of  taper  specified  in  the  scroll.  While  this 
burns,  the  strongest  walls  and  most  secret  caverns  will  remain 
open;  woe  to  him,  however,  who  lingers  within  until  it  be 
extinguished.  He  will  remain  enchanted  with  the  treasure." 

It  was  now  agreed  between  them  to  try  the  charm  that 
very  night.  At  a  late  hour,  therefore,  when  nothing  was  stir 
ring  but  bats  and  owls,  they  ascended  the  woody  hill  of  the 
Alharnbra,  and  approached  that  awful  tower,  shrouded  by 
trees  and  rendered  formidable  by  so  many  traditionary  tales. 

By  the  light  of  a  lantern,  they  groped  their  way  through 
bushes,  and  over  fallen  stones,  to  the  door  of  a  vault  beneath 
the  tower.  With  fear  and  trembling  they  descended  a  flight 
of  steps  cut  into  the  rock.  It  led  to  an  empty  chamber,  damp 
and  drear,  from  which  another  flight  of  steps  led  to  a  deeper 
vault.  In  this  way  they  descended  four  several  flights,  lead 
ing  into  as  many  vaults,  one  below  the  other,  but  the  floor  of 
the  fourth  was  solid,  and  though,  according  to  tradition,  there 
remained  three  vaults  still  below,  it  was  said  to  be  impossible  to 
penetrate  farther,  the  residue  being  shut  up  by  strong  enchant 
ment.  The  air  of  this  vault  was  damp  and  chilly,  and  had  an 
earthy  smell,  and  the  light  scarce  cast  forth  any  rays.  They 
paused  here  for  a  time  in  breathless  suspense,  until  they 
faintly  heard  the  clock  of  the  watch-tower  strike  midnight ; 
upon  this  they  lit  the  waxen  taper,  which  diffused  an  odor  of 
myrrh,  and  frankincense,  and  storax. 


176  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

The  Moor  began  to  read  in  a  hurried  voice.  He  had  scarce 
finished,  when  there  was  a  noise  as  of  subterraneous  thunder. 
The  earth  shook,  and  the  floor  yawning  open  disclosed  a 
flight  of  steps.  Trembling  with  awe  they  descended,  and  by 
the  light  of  the  lantern  found  themselves  in  another  vault, 
covered  with  Arabic  inscriptions.  In  the  centre  stood  a  great 
chest,  secured  with  seven  bands  of  steel,  at  each  end  of  which 
sat  an  enchanted  Moor  in  armor,  but  motionless  as  a  statue, 
being  controlled  by  the  power  of  the  incantation.  Before  the 
chest  were  several  jars  filled  with  gold  and  silver  and  precious 
stones.  In  the  largest  of  these  they  thrust  their  arms  up  to  the 
elbow,  and  at  every  dip  hauled  forth  hands  full  of  broad  yellow 
pieces  of  Moorish  gold,  or  bracelets  and  ornaments  of  the  same 
precious  metal,  while  occasionally  a  necklace  of  Oriental  pearl 
would  stick  to  their  fingers.  Still  they  trembled  and  breathed 
short  while  cramming  their  pockets  with  the  spoils  ;  and  cast 
many  a  fearful  glance  at  the  two  enchanted  Moors,  who  sat 
grim  and  motionless,  glaring  upon  them  with  unwinking  eyes. 
At  length,  struck  with  a  sudden  panic  at  some  fancied  noise, 
they  both  rushed  up  the  staircase,  tumbled  over  one  another 
into  the  upper  apartment,  overturned  and  extinguished  the 
waxen  taper,  and  the  pavement  again  closed  with  a  thunder 
ing  sound. 

Filled  with  dismay,  they  did  not  pause  until  they  had 
groped  their  way  out  of  the  tower,  and  beheld  the  stars  shin 
ing  through  the  trees.  Then  seating  themselves  upon  the  grass, 
they  divided  the  spoil  determining  to  content  themselves  for 
the  present  with  this  mere  skimming  of  the  jars,  but  to  return 
on  some  future  night  and  drain  them  to  the  bottom.  To  make 
sure  of  each  other's  good  faith,  also,  they  divided  the  talis 
mans  between  them,  one  retaining  the  scroll  and  the  other  the 
taper ;  this  done,  they  set  off  with  light  hearts  and  well-lined 
pockets  for  Granada. 

As  they  wended  their  way  down  the  hill,  the  shrewd  Moor 
whispered  a  word  of  counsel  in  the  ear  of  the  simple  little 
water-carrier. 

"  Friend  Peregil,"  said  he,  "  all  this  affair  must  be  kept  a 
profound  secret  until  we  have  secured  the  treasure  and  con 
veyed  it  out  of  harm's  way.  If  a  whisper  of  it  gets  to  the  ear 
of  the  Alcalde  we  are  undone  !  " 

"  Certainly  !  "  replied  the  Gallego  ;  "  nothing  can  be  more 
true." 

"Friend  Peregil,"  said  the  Moor,  '-'you  are  a  discreet  man, 
and  I  make  no  doubt  can  keep  a  secret ;  but  —  you  have  a 
wife  —  " 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOK'S  LEGACY.  177 

"  She  shall  uot  know  a  word  of  it !  "  replied  the  little  water- 
carrier  sturdily. 

"  Enough,"  said  the  Moor,  "  I  depend  upon  thy  discretion 
and  thy  promise." 

Never  was  promise  more  positive  and  sincere  ;  but  alas  ! 
what  man  can  keep  a  secret  from  his  wife  ?  Certainly  not 
such  a  one  as  Peregil  the  water-carrier,  who  was  one  of  the 
most  loving  and  tractable  of  husbands.  On  his  return  home 
he  found  his  wife  moping  in  a  corner. 

"Mighty  well!  "  cried  she,  as  he  entered;  "you've  come  at 
last;  after  rambling  about  until  this  hour  of  the  night.  I 
wonder  you  have  not  brought  home  another  Moor  as  a  house 
mate."  Then  bursting  into  tears  she  began  to  wring  her 
hands  and  smite  her  breast.  "  Unhappy  woman  that  I  am  ! " 
exclaimed  she,  "  what  will  become  of  me  !  My  house  stripped 
and  plundered  by  lawyers  and  alguazils ;  my  husband  a  do-no- 
good  that  no  longer  brings  home  bread  to  his  family,  but  goes 
rambling  about,  day  and  night,  with  infidel  Moors.  Oh,  my 
children !  my  children  !  what  will  become  of  us ;  we  shall  all 
have  to  beg  in  the  streets  ! " 

Honest  Peregil  was  so  moved  by  the  distress  of  his  spouse, 
that  he  could  not  help  whimpering  also.  His  heart  was  as 
full  as  his  pocket,  and  not  to  be  restrained.  Thrusting  his 
hand  into  the  latter  he  hauled  forth  three  or  four  broad  gold 
pieces  and  slipped  them  into  her  bosom.  The  poor  woman 
stared  with  astonishment,  and  could  not  understand  the  mean 
ing  of  this  golden  shower.  Before  she  could  recover  her  sur 
prise,  the  little  Gallego  drew  forth  a  chain  of  gold  and  dangled 
it  before  her,  capering  with  exultation,  his  mouth  distended 
from  ear  to  ear. 

"  Holy  Virgin  protect  us  !  "  exclaimed  the  wife.  "  What 
hast  thou  been  doing,  Peregil  ?  Surely  thou  hast  not  been 
committing  murder  and  robbery  !  *' 

The  idea  scarce  entered  the  brain  of  the  poor  woman  than 
it  became  a  certainty  with  her.  She  saw  a  prison  and  a  gal 
lows  in  the  distance,  and  a  little  bandy-legged  Gallego  hang 
ing  pendent  from  it  ;  and,  overcome  by  the  horrors  conjured 
up  by  her  imagination,  fell  into  violent  hysterics. 

What  could  the  poor  man  do  ?  He  had  no  other  means  of 
pacifying  his  wife  and  dispelling  the  phantoms  of  her  fancy, 
than  by  relating  the  whole  story  of  his  good  fortune.  This, 
however,  he  did  not  do  until  he  had  exacted  from  her  the  most 
solemn  promise  to  keep  it  a  profound  secret  from  every  living 
being. 


178  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

To  describe  her  joy  would  be  impossible.  She  flung  her 
arms  round  the  neck  of  her  husband,  and  almost  strangled  him 
with  her  caresses.  '•'  Now,  wife  !  "  exclaimed  the  little  man 
with  honest  exultation,  ;;  what  say  you  now  to  the  Moor's 
legacy  ?  Henceforth  never  abuse  me  for  helping  a  fellow 
creature  in  distress." 

The  honest  Gallego  retired  to  his  sheepskin  mat,  and  slept 
as  soundly  as  if  on  a  bed  of  down.  Not  so  his  wife.  —  She 
emptied  the  whole  contents  of  his  pockets  upon  the  mat,  and 
sat  counting  gold  pieces  of  Arabic  coin,  trying  on  necklaces 
and  ear-rings,  and  fancying  the  figure  she  should  one  day  make 
when  permitted  to  enjoy  her  riches. 

On  the  following  morning  the  honest  Gallego  took  a  broad 
golden  coin,  and  repaired  with  it  to  a  jeweller's  shop  in  the 
Zacatin  to  offer  it  for  sale  ;  pretending  to  have  found  it  among 
the  ruins  of  the  Alhambra.  The  jeweller  saw  that  it  had  an 
Arabic  inscription  and  was  of  the  purest  gold;  he  offered, 
however,  but  a  third  of  its  value,  with  which  the  water-carrier 
was  perfectly  content.  Peregil  now  bought  new  clothes  for 
his  little  flock,  and  all  kinds  of  toys,  together  with  ample  pro 
visions  for  a  hearty  meal,  and  returning  to  his  dwelling  set 
all  his  children  dancing  around  him,  while  he  capered  in  the 
midst,  the  happiest  of  fathers. 

The  wife  of  the  water-carrier  kept  her  promise  of  secrecy 
with  surprising  strictness.  For  a  whole  day  and  a  half  she 
went  about  with  a  look  of  mystery  and  a  heart  swelling  almost 
to  bursting,  yet  she  held  her  peace,  though  surrounded  by  her 
gossips.  It  is  true  she  could  not  help  giving  herself  a  few  airs, 
apologized  for  her  ragged  dress,  and  talked  of  ordering  a  new 
basquina  all  trimmed  with  gold  lace  and  bugles,  and  a  new 
lace  mantilla.  She  threw  out  hints  of  her  husband's  intention 
of  leaving  off  his  trade  of  water-carrying,  as  it  did  not  alto 
gether  agree  with  his  health.  In  fact  she  thought  they  should 
all  retire  to  the  country  for  the  summer,  that  the  children 
might  have  the  benefit  of  the  mountain  air,  for  there  was  no 
living  in  the  city  in  this  sultry  season. 

The  neighbors  stared  at  each  other,  and  thought  the  poor 
woman  had  lost  her  wits,  and  her  airs  and  graces  and  elegant 
pretensions  were  the  theme  of  universal  scoffing  and  merri 
ment  among  her  friends,  the  moment  her  back  was  turned. 

If  she  restrained  herself  abroad,  however,  she  indemnified 
herself  at  home,  and,  putting  a  string  of  rich  Oriental  pearls 
round  her  neck,  Moorish  bracelets  on  her  arms  ;  an  aigrette  of 
diamonds  on  her  head,  sailed  backwards  and  forwards  in  her 


LEGEND   OF   THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.  179 

slattern  rags  about  the  room,  now  and  then  stopping  to  admire 
herself  in  a  broken  mirror.  Nay,  in  the  impulse  of  her 
simple  vanity,  she  could  not  resist  on  one  occasion  showing 
herself  at  the  window,  to  enjoy  the  effect  of  her  finery  on  the 
passers  by. 

As  the  fates  would  have  it,  Pedrillo  Pedrugo,  the  meddle 
some  barber,  was  at  this  moment  sitting  idly  in  his  shop  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  when  his  ever  watchful  eye 
caught  the  sparkle  of  a  diamond.  In  an  instant  he  was  at  his 
loop-hole,  reconnoitring  the  slattern  spouse  of  the  water- 
carrier,  decorated  with  the  splendor  of  an  eastern  bride.  No 
sooner  had  he  taken  an  accurate  inventory  of  her  ornaments 
than  he  posted  off  with  all  speed  to  the  Alcalde.  In  a  little 
while  the  hungry  alguazil  was  again  on  the  scent,  and  before 
the  day  was  over,  the  unfortunate  Peregil  was  once  more 
dragged  into  the  presence  of  the  judge. 

"  How  is  this,  villain  ! "  cried  the  Alcalde  in  a  furious 
voice.  "  You  told  me  that  the  infidel  who  died  in  your  house 
left  nothing  behind  but  an  empty  coffer,  and  now  I  hear  of 
your  wife  flaunting  in  her  rags  decked  out  with  pearls  and 
diamonds.  Wretch,  that  thou  art !  prepare  to  render  up  the 
spoils  of  thy  miserable  victim,  and  to  swing  on  the  gallows 
that  is  already  tired  of  waiting  for  thee." 

The  terrified  water-carrier  fell  on  his  knees,  and  made  a 
full  relation  of  the  marvellous  manner  in  which  he  had  gained 
his  wealth.  The  Alcalde,  the  alguazil,  and  the  inquisitive 
barber  listened  with  greedy  ears  to  this  Arabian  tale  of  en 
chanted  treasure.  The  alguazil  was  despatched  to  bring  the 
Moor  who  had  assisted  in  the  incantation.  The  Moslem 
entered  half  frightened  out  of  his  wits  at  finding  himself  in 
the  hands  of  the  harpies  of  the  law.  When  he  beheld  the 
water-carrier  standing  with  sheepish  look  and  downcast  coun 
tenance,  he  comprehended  the  whole  matter.  "  Miserable 
animal,"  said  he,  as  he  passed  near  him,  "  did  I  not  warn  thee 
against  babbling  to  thy  wife  ?  " 

The  story  of  the  Moor  coincided  exactly  with  that  of  his 
colleague ;  but  the  Alcalde  affected  to  be  slow  of  belief,  and 
threw  out  menaces  of  imprisonment  and  rigorous  investiga 
tion. 

"  Softly,  good  Sefior  Alcalde,"  said  the  Mussulman,  who  by 
this  time  had  recovered  his  usual  shrewdness  and  self-posses 
sion.  "  Let  us  not  mar  fortune's  favors  in  the  scramble  for 
them.  Nobody  knows  anything  of  this  matter  but  ourselves  ; 
let  us  keep  the  secret.  There  is  wealth  enough  in  the  cave  to 


180  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

enrich  us  all.  Promise  a  fair  division,  and  all  shall  be  pro 
duced  ;  refuse,  and  the  cave  shall  remain  forever  closed." 

The  Alcalde  consulted  apart  with  the  alguazil.  The  latter 
was  an  old  fox  in  his  profession.  "  Promise  anything,"  said 
he,  "  until  you  get  possession  of  the  treasure.  You  may  then 
seize  upon  the  whole,  and  if  he  and  his  accomplice  dare  to 
murmur,  threaten  them  with  the  fagot  and  the  stake  as  infidels 
and  sorcerers." 

The  Alcalde  relished  the  advice.  Smoothing  his  brow  and 
turning  to  the  Moor,  —  "  This  is  a  strange  story,"  said  he, 
"  and  may  be  true,  but  I  must  have  ocular  proof  of  it.  This 
very  night  you  must  repeat  the  incantation  in  my  presence. 
If  there  be  really  such  treasure,  we  will  share  it  amicably 
between  us,  and  say  nothing  further  of  the  matter  ;  if  ye  have 
deceived  me,  expect  no  mercy  at  my  hands.  In  the  mean 
time  you  must  remain  in  custody." 

The  Moor  and  the  water-carrier  cheerfully  agreed  to  these 
conditions,  satisfied  that  the  event  would  prove  the  truth  of 
their  words. 

Towards  midnight  the  Alcalde  sallied  forth  secretly,  attended 
by  the  alguazil  and  the  meddlesome  barber,  all  strongly 
armed.  They  conducted  the  Moor  and  the  water-carrier  as 
prisoners,  and  were  provided  with  the  stout  donkey  of  the 
latter,  to  bear  off  the  expected  treasure.  They  arrived  at  the 
tower  without  being  observed,  and  tying  the  donkey  to  a  fig- 
tree,  descended  into  the  fourth  vault  of  the  tower. 

The  scroll  was  produced,  the  yellow  waxen  taper  lighted, 
and  the  Moor  read  the  form  of  incantation.  The  eai-th 
trembled  as  before,  and  the  pavement  opened  with  a  thunder 
ing  sound,  disclosing  the  narrow  flight  of  steps.  The  Alcalde, 
the  alguazil,  and  the  barber  were  struck  aghast,  and  could  not 
summon  courage  to  descend.  The  Moor  and  the  water-carrier 
entered  the  lower  vault  and  found  the  two  Moors  seated  as 
before,  silent  and  motionless.  They  removed  two  of  the  great 
jars  filled  with  golden  coin  and  precious  stones.  The  water- 
carrier  bore  them  up  one  by  one  upon  his  shoulders,  but 
though  a  strong-backed  little  man,  and  accustomed  to  carry 
burdens,  he  staggered  beneath  their  weight,  and  found,  when 
slung  on  each  side  of  his  donkey,  they  were  as  much  as  the 
animal  could  bear. 

"  Let  us  be  content  for  the  present,"  said  the  Moor  ;  "  here 
is  as  much  treasure  as  we  can  carry  off  without  being  per 
ceived,  and  enough  to  make  us  all  wealthy  to  our  heart's 
desire." 


LEGEND   OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY.  181 

"  Is  there  more  treasure  remaining  behind  ?  "  demanded  the 
Alcalde. 

"The  greatest  prize  of  all,"  said  the  Moor  ;  "a  huge  coffer, 
bound  with  bands  of  steel,  and  filled  with  pearls  and  precious 
stones." 

"  Let  us  have  up  the  coffer  by  all  means,"  cried  the  grasping 
Alcalde. 

"I  will  descend  for  no  more,"  said  the  Moor,  doggedly. 
"  Enough  is  enough  for  a  reasonable  man ;  more  is  superflu 
ous." 

"And  I,"  said  the  water-carrier,  "will  bring  up  no  further 
burden  to  break  the  back  of  my  poor  donkey." 

Finding  commands,  threats,  and  entreaties  equally  vain,  the 
Alcalde  turned  to  his  two  adherents.  "Aid  me,"  said  he,  "to 
bring  up  the  coffer,  and  its  contents  shall  be  divided  between 
us."  So  saying  he  descended  the  steps,  followed,  with  trem 
bling  reluctance,  by  the  alguazil  and  the  barber. 

No  sooner  did  the  Moor  behold  them  fairly  earthed  than 
he  extinguished  the  yellow  taper  :  the  pavement  closed  with 
its  usual  crash,  and  the  three  worthies  remained  buried  in  its 
womb. 

He  then  hastened  up  the  different  flights  of  steps,  nor 
stopped  until  in  the  open  air.  The  little  water-carrier  fol 
lowed  him  as  fast  as  his  short  legs  would  permit. 

"  What  hast  thou  done  ?  "  cried  Peregil.  as  soon  as  he  could 
recover  breath.  "  The  Alcalde  and  the  other  two  are  shut  up 
in  the  vault ! " 

"  It  is  the  will  of  Allah  ! "  said  the  Moor,  devoutly. 

"  And  will  you  not  release  them  ?  "  demanded  the  Gallego. 

"  Allah  forbid  !  "  replied  the  Moor,  smoothing  his  beard. 
"  It  is  written  in  the  book  of  fate  that  they  shall  remain 
enchanted  until  some  future  adventurer  arrive  to  break  the 
charm.  The  will  of  God  be  done  !  "  So  saying  he  hurled 
the  end  of  the  waxen  taper  far  among  the  gloomy  thickets  of 
the  glen. 

There  was  now  no  remedy  ;  so  the  Moor  and  the  water-car 
rier  proceeded  with  the  richly-laden  donkey  towards  the  city  : 
nor  could  honest  Peregil  refrain  from  hugging  and  kissing 
his  long-eared  fellow-laborer,  thus  restored  to  him  from  the 
clutches  of  the  law ;  and,  in  fact,  it  is  doubtful  which  gave 
the  simple-hearted  little  man  most  joy  at  the  moment  the 
gaining  of  the  treasure  or  the  recovery  of  the  donkey. 

The  two  partners  in  good  luck  divided  their  spoil  amicably 
and  fairly,  except  that  the  Moor,  who  had  a  little  taste  for 


182  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

trinketry,  made  out  to  get  into  his  heap  the  most  of  the  pearls 
and  precious  stones,  and  other  baubles,  but  then  he  always 
gave  the  water-carrier  in  lieu  magnificent  jewels  of  massy  gold 
of  five  times  the  size,  with  which  the  latter  was  heartily  con 
tent.  They  took  care  not  to  linger  within  reach  of  accidents, 
but  made  off  to  enjoy  their  wealth  undisturbed  in  other  coun 
tries.  The  Moor  returned  to  Africa,  to  his  native  city  of 
Tangiers,  and  the  Gallego,  with  his  wife,  his  children,  and  his 
donkey,  made  the  best  of  his  way  to  Portugal.  Here,  under 
the  admonition  and  tuition  of  his  wife,  he  became  a  personage 
of  some  consequence,  for  she  made  the  worthy  little  man  array 
his  long  body  and  short  legs  in  doublet  and  hose,  with  a 
feather  in  his  hat  and  a  sword  by  his  side ;  and,  laying  aside 
his  familiar  appellation  of  Peregil,  assume  the  more  sonorous 
title  of  Don  Pedro  Gil.  His  progeny  grew  up  a  thriving  and 
merry-hearted,  though  short  and  bandy-legged  generation ; 
while  Senora  Gil,  be-fringed,  be-laced,  and  be-tasselled  from 
her  head  to  her  heels,  with  glittering  rings  on  every  finger, 
became  a  model  of  slattern  fashion  and  finery. 

As  to  the  Alcalde,  and  his  adjuncts,  they  remained  shut  up 
under  the  great  tower  of  the  Seven  Floors,  and  there  they 
remain  spellbound  at  the  present  day.  Whenever  there  shall 
be  a  lack  in  Spain  of  pimping  barbers,  sharking  alguazils,  and 
corrupt  Alcaldes,  they  may  be  sought  after ;  but  if  they  have 
to  wait  until  such  time  for  their  deliverance,  there  is  danger 
of  their  enchantment  enduring  until  doomsday. 


THE   TOWER  OF   LAS   INFANTAS. 

IN  an  evening's  stroll  up  a  narrow  glen,  overshadowed  by 
fig-trees,  pomegranates,  and  myrtles,  which  divides  the  lands 
of  the  fortress  from  those  of  the  Generalife,  I  was  struck 
with  the  romantic  appearance  of  a  Moorish  tower  in  the  outer 
wall  of  the  Alhambra,  rising  high  above  the  tree-tops,  and 
catching  the  ruddy  rays  of  the  setting  sun.  A  solitary  win 
dow  at  a  great  height  commanded  a  view  of  the  glen  ;  and  as  I 
was  regarding  it,  a  young  female  looked  out,  with  her  head 
adorned  with  flowers.  She  was  evidently  superior  to  the 
usual  class  of  people  inhabiting  the  old  towers  of  the  fortress  ; 
and  this  sudden  and  picturesque  glimpse  of  her  reminded  me  of 
the  descriptions  of  captive  beauties  in  fairy  tales.  These  f anci- 


LEGEND   OF   THE   THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES.     183 

ful  associations  were  increased  on  being  informed  by  my  at 
tendant  Mateo,  that  this  was  the  Tower  of  the  Princesses  (La 
Torre  de  las  Infantas) ;  so  called,  from  having  been,  according 
to  tradition,  the  residence  of  the  daughters  of  the  Moorish 
kings.  I  have  since  visited  the  tower.  It  is  not  generally 
shown  to  strangers,  though  well  worthy  attention,  for  the 
interior  is  equal,  for  beauty  of  architecture,  and  delicacy  of  or 
nament,  to  any  part  of  the  palace.  The  elegance  of  the  cen 
tral  hall,  with  its  marble  fountain,  its  lofty  arches,  and  richly 
fretted  dome ;  the  arabesques  and  stucco-work  of  the  small 
but  well-proportioned  chambers,  though  injured  by  time  and 
neglect,  all  accord  with  the  story  of  its  being  anciently  the 
abode  of  royal  beauty. 

The  little  old  fairy  queen  who  lives  under  the  staircase  of 
the  Alhambra,  and  frequents  the  evening  tertulias  of  Dame 
Antonia,  tells  some  fanciful  traditions  about  three  Moorish 
princesses,  who  were  once  shut  up  in  this  tower  by  their 
father,  a  tyrant  king  of  Granada,  and  were  only  permitted  to 
ride  out  at  night  about  the  hills,  when  no  one  was  permitted 
to  come  in  their  way  under  pain  of  death.  They  still,  accord 
ing  to  her  account,  may  be  seen  occasionally  when  the 
moon  is  in  the  full,  riding  in  lonely  places  along  the  mountain 
side,  on  palfreys  richly  caparisoned  and  sparkling  with  jewels, 
but  they  vanish  on  being  spoken  to. 

But  before  I  relate  anything  further  respecting  these  prin 
cesses,  the  reader  may  be  anxious  to  know  something  about 
the  fair  inhabitant  of  the  tower  with  her  head  dressed  with 
flowers,  who  looked  out  from  the  lofty  window.  She  proved 
to  be  the  newly-married  spouse  of  the  worthy  adjutant  of  in 
valids  ;  who,  though  well  stricken  in  years,  had  had  the 
courage  to  take  to  his  bosom  a  young  and  buxom  Andalusian 
damsel.  May  the  good  old  cavalier  be  happy  in  his  choice, 
and  find  the  Tower  of  the  Princesses  a  more  secure  residence 
for  female  beauty  than  it  seems  to  have  proved  in  the  time 
of  the  Moslems,  if  we  may  believe  the  following  legend  ! 


LEGEND  OF  THE  THEEE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES. 

IN  old  times  there  reigned  a  Moorish  king  in  Granada,  whose 
name  was  Mohamed,  to  which  his  subjects  added  the  appella 
tion  of  el  Hayzari,  or.  "  the  left-handed."  Some  say  he  was 
so  called,  on  account  of  his  being  really  more  expert  with  his 


184  THE  ALHAMSRA. 

sinister,  than  his  dexter  hand ;  others,  because  he  was  prone  to 
take  everything  by  the  wrong  end;  or,  in  other  words,  to  mar 
wherever  he  meddled.  Certain  it  is,  either  through  misfortune 
or  mismanagement,  he  was  continually  in  trouble.  Thrice  was 
he  driven  from  his  throne,  and  on  one  occasion  barely  escaped 
to  Africa  with  his  life,  in  the  disguise  of  a  fisherman.1  Still 
he  was  as  brave  as  he  was  blundering,  and,  though  left-handed, 
wielded  his  ci meter  to  such  purpose,  that  he  each  time  re-es 
tablished  himself  upon  his  throne,  by  dint  of  hard  fighting. 
Instead,  however,  of  learning  wisdom  from  adversity,  he  hard 
ened  his  neck,  and  stiffened  his  left-arm  in  wilfulness.  The 
evils  of  a  public  nature  which  he  thus  brought  upon  himself 
and  his  kingdom,  may  be  learned  by  those  who  will  delve 
into  the  Arabian  annals  of  Granada ;  the  present  legend  deals 
but  with  his  domestic  policy. 

As  this  Mohamed  was  one  day  riding  forth,  with  a  train  of 
his  courtiers,  by  the  foot  of  the  mountain  of  Elvira,  he  met  a 
band  of  horsemen  returning  from  a  foray  into  the  land  of 
the  Christians.  They  were  conducting  a  long  string  of  mules 
laden  with  spoil,  and  many  captives  of  both  sexes,  among  whom, 
the  monarch  was  struck  with  the  appearance  of  a  beautiful  dam 
sel  richly  attired,  who  sat  weeping,  on  alow  palfrey,  and  heeded 
not  the  consoling  words  of  a  duenna,  who  rode  beside  her. 

The  monarch  was  struck  with  her  beauty,  and  on  inquiring 
of  the  captain  of  the  troop,  found  that  she  was  the  daughter  of 
the  alcayde  of  a  frontier  fortress  that  had  been  surprised  and 
sacked  in  the  course  of  the  foray. 

Mohamed  claimed  her  as  his  royal  share  of  the  booty,  and 
had  her  conveyed  to  his  harem  in  the  Alhambra.  There  every 
thing  was  devised  to  soothe  her  melancholy,  and  the  monarch, 
more  and  more  enamoured,  sought  to  make  her  his  queen. 

The  Spanish  maid  at  first  repulsed  his  addresses.  He  was 
an  infidel  —  he  was  the  open  foe  of  her  country  —  what  was 
worse,  he  was  stricken  in  years ! 

The  monarch,  finding  his  assiduities  of  no  avail,  determined 
to  enlist  in  his  favor  the  duenna,  who  had  been  captured  with 
the  lady.  She  was  an  Andalusian  by  birth,  whose  Christian 
name  is  forgotten,  being  mentioned  in  Moorish  legends  by  no 
other  appellation  than  that  of  the  discreet  Kadiga  —  and  dis 
creet,  in  truth  she  was,  as  her  whole  history  makes  evident. 
No  sooner  had  the  Moorish  king  held  a  little  private  conversa- 


1  The  reader  will  recognize  the  sovereign  connected    with    the    fortunes  of   the 
Abeucerrages.    His  story  appears  to  be  ii  little  iietionized  in  the  It-gend. 


LEGEND   OF   THE    THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES.    185 

tion  with  her,  than  she  saw  at  once  the  cogency  of  his  reason 
ing  and  undertook  his  cause  with  her  young  mistress. 

'•'  Go  to,  now ! "  cried  she  ;  "  what  is  there  in  all  this  to 
weep  and  wail  about  ?  —  Is  it  not  better  to  be  mistress  of  this 
beautiful  palace  with  all  its  gardens  and  fountains,  than  to  be 
shut  up  within  your  father's  old  frontier  tower  ?  As  to  this 
Mohamed  being  an  infidel  —  what  is  that  to  the  purpose  ? 
You  marry  him  —  not  his  religion.  And  if  he  is  waxing  a  little 
old,  the  sooner  will  you  be  a  widow  and  mistress  of  yourself. 
At  any  rate  you  are  in  his  power  —  and  must  either  be  a  queen 
or  a  slave.  —  When  in  the  hands  of  a  robber,  it  is  better  to  sell 
one's  merchandise  for  a  fair  price,  than  to  have  it  taken  by 
main  force." 

The  arguments  of  the  discreet  Kadiga  prevailed.  The  Span 
ish  lady  dried  her  tears  and  became  the  spouse  of  Mohamed  the 
left-handed.  She  even  conformed  in  appearance  to  the  faith 
of  her  royal  husband,  and  her  discreet  duenna  immediately 
became  a  zealous  convert  to  the  Moslem  doctrines ;  it  was  then 
the  latter  received  the  Arabian  name  of  Kadiga,  and  was  per 
mitted  to  remain  in  the  confidential  employ  of  her  mistress. 

In  due  process  of  time,  the  Moorish  king  was  made  the 
proud  and  happy  father  of  three  lovely  daughters,  all  born  at 
a  birth.  He  could  have  wished  they  had  been  sons,  but  consoled 
himself  with  the  idea  that  three  daughters  at  a  birth  were 
pretty  well  for  a  man  somewhat  stricken  in  years,  and  left- 
handed. 

As  usual  with  all  Moslem  monarchs,  he  summoned  his  astrol 
ogers  on  this  happy  event.  They  cast  the  nativities  of  the 
three  princesses,  and  shook  their  heads.  "  Daughters,  O  king," 
said  they,  "  are  always  precarious  property  ;  but  these  will 
most  need  your  watchfulness  when  they  arrive  at  a  marriage 
able  age.  —  At  that  time  gather  them  under  your  wing,  and 
trust  them  to  no  other  guardianship.  " 

Moharaed  the  left-handed  was  acknowledged  to  be  a  wise 
king  by  his  courtiers,  and  was  certainly  so  considered  by  him 
self.  The  prediction  of  the  astrologers  caused  him  but  little 
disquiet,  trusting  to  his  ingenuity  to  guard  his  daughters  and 
outwit  the  fates. 

The  threefold  birth  was  the  last  matrimonial  trophy  of  the 
monarch;  his  queen  bore  him  no  more  children,  and  died 
within  a  few  years,  bequeathing  her  infant  daughters  to  his 
love,  and  to  the  fidelity  of  the  discreet  Kadiga. 

Many  years  had  yet  to  elapse  before  the  princesses  would 
arrive  at  that  period  of  danger,  the  marriageable  age.  "  It  is 


186  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

good,  however,  to  be  cautious  in  time,"  said  the  shrewd  mon 
arch  ;  so  he  determined  to  have  them  reared  in  the  royal 
castle  of  Salobrena.  This  was  a  sumptuous  palace,  incrusted 
as  it  were  in  a  powerful  Moorish  fortress,  on  the  summit  of  a 
hill  overlooking  the  Mediterranean  sea. 

It  was  a  royal  retreat,  in  which  the  Moslem  monarchs  shut 
up  such  of  their  relatives  as  might  endanger  their  safety ; 
allowing  them  all  kinds  of  luxuries  and  amusements,  in  the 
midst  of  which  they  passed  their  lives  in  voluptuous  indolence. 

Here  the  princesses  remained,  immured  from  the  world, 
but  surrounded  by.  enjoyment ;  and  attended  by  female  slaves 
who  anticipated  their  wishes.  They  had  delightful  gardens 
for  their  recreation,  filled  with  the  rarest  fruits  and  flowers, 
with  aromatic  groves  and  perfumed  baths.  On  three  sides 
the  castle  looked  down  upon  a  rich  valley,  enamelled  with  all 
kinds  of  culture,  and  bounded  by  the  lofty  Alpuxarra  moun 
tains  ;  on  the  other  side  it  overlooked  the  broad  sunny  sea. 

In  this  delicious  abode,  in  a  propitious  climate  and  under 
a  cloudless  sky,  the  three  princesses  grew  up  into  wondrous 
beauty ;  but,  though  all  reared  alike,  they  gave  early  tokens 
of  diversity  of  character.  Their  names  were  Zayda,  Zorayda, 
and  Zorahayda  ;  and  such  was  the  order  of  seniority,  for  there 
had  been  precisely  three  minutes  between  their  births. 

Zayda,  the  eldest,  was  of  an  intrepid  spirit,  and  took  the 
lead  of  her  sisters  in  everything,  as  she  had  done  in  entering 
into  the  world.  She  was  curious  and  inquisitive,  and  fond  of 
getting  at  the  bottom  of  things. 

Zorayda  had  a  great  feeling  for  beauty,  which  was  the 
reason,  no  doubt,  of  her  delighting  to  regard  her  own  image 
in  a  mirror  or  a  fountain,  and  of  her  fondness  for  flowers  and 
jewels,  and  other  tasteful  ornaments. 

As  to  Zorahayda,  the  youngest,  she  was  soft  and  timid,  and 
extremely  sensitive,  with  a  vast  deal  of  disposable  tenderness, 
as  was  evident  from  her  number  of  pet  flowers,  and  pet  birds, 
and  pet  animals,  all  of  which  she  cherished  with  the  fondest 
care.  Her  amusements,  too,  were  of  a  gentle  nature,  and 
mixed  up  with  musing  and  revery.  She  would  sit  for  hours 
in  a  balcony  gazing  on  the  sparkling  stars  of  a  summer's 
night ;  or  on  the  sea  when  lit  up  by  the  moon,  and  at  such 
times  the  song  of  a  fisherman  faintly  heard  from  the  beach, 
or  the  notes  of  a  Moorish  flute  from  some  gliding  bark,  sufficed 
to  elevate  her  feelings  into  ecstasy.  The  least  uproar  of  the 
elements,  however,  filled  her  with  dismay,  and  a  clap  of 
thunder  was  enousrh  to  throw  her  into  a  swoon. 


LEGEND   OF   THE    THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES.     187 

Years  rolled  on  smoothly  and  serenely ;  the  discreet  Kadiga, 
to  whom  the  princesses  were  confided,  was  faithful  to  her 
trust  and  attended  them  with  unremitting  care. 

The  castle  of  Salobreiia,  as  has  been  said,  was  built  upon 
a  hill  on  the  seacoast.  One  of  the  exterior  walls  straggled 
down  the  profile  of  the  hill,  until  it  reached  a  jutting  rock 
overhanging  the  sea,  with  a  narrow  sandy  beach  at  its  foot, 
laved  by  the  rippling  billows.  A  small  watch  tower  on  this 
rock  had  been  fitted  up  as  a  pavilion,  with  latticed  windows  to 
admit  the  sea  breeze.  Here  the  princesses  used  to  pass  the 
sultry  hours  of  mid-day. 

The  curious  Zayda  was  one  day  seated  at  a  window  of  the 
pavilion,  as  her  sisters,  reclining  on  ottomans,  were  taking  the 
siesta,  or  noontide  slumber.  Her  attention  was  attracted  to  a 
galley,  which  came  coasting  along,  with  measured  strokes  of 
the  oar.  As  it  drew  near,  she  observed  that  it  was  filled  with 
armed  men.  The  galley  anchored  at  the  foot  of  the  tower : 
a  number  of  Moorish  soldiers  landed  on  the  narrow  beach, 
conducting  several  Christian  prisoners.  The  curious  Zayda 
awakened  her  sisters,  and  all  three  peeped  cautiously  through 
the  close  jalousies  of  the  lattice,  which  screened  them  from 
sight.  Among  the  prisoners  were  three  Spanish  cavaliers, 
richly  dressed.  They  were  in  the  flower  of  youth,  and  of  noble 
presence,  and  the  lofty  manner  in  which  they  carried  them 
selves,  though  loaded  with  chains  and  surrounded  with 
enemies,  beepoke  the  grandeur  of  their  souls.  The  princesses 
gazed  with  intense  and  breathless  interest.  Cooped  up  as 
they  had  been  in  this  castle  among  female  attendants,  seeing 
nothing  of  the  male  sex  but  black  slaves,  or  the  rude  fisher 
men  of  the  seacoast,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  that  the 
appearance  of  three  gallant  cavaliers  in  the  pride  of  youth 
and  manly  beauty  should  produce  some  commotion  in  their 
bosoms. 

"  Did  ever  nobler  being  tread  the  earth,  than  that  cavalier 
in  crimson  ?  "  cried  Zayda,  the  eldest  of  the  sisters.  "  See 
how  proudly  he  bears  himself,  as  though  all  around  him  were 
his  slaves ! " 

"  But  notice  that  one  in  green,"  exclaimed  Zorayda ;  "  what 
grace  !  what  elegance  !  what  spirit !  " 

The  gentle  Zorahayda  said  nothing,  but  she  secretly  gave 
preference  to  the  cavalier  in  blue. 

The  princesses  remained  gazing  until  the  prisoners  were 
out  of  sight  ;  then  heaving  long-drawn  sighs,  they  turned 
round,  looked  at  each  other  for  a  moment,  and  sat  down  mus 
ing  and  pensive  on  their  ottomans. 


188  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

The  discreet  Kadiga  found  them  in  this  situation  ;  they  re* 
lated  what  they  had  seen,  and  even  the  .withered  heart  of  the 
duenna  was  warmed.  "  Poor  youths  ! "  exclaimed  she,  "  I  '11 
warrant  their  captivity  makes  many  a  fair  and  high-born  lady's 
heart  ache  in  their  native  land  !  Ah,  my  children,  you  have 
little  idea  of  the  life  these  cavaliers  lead  in  their  own  country. 
Such  prankling  at  tournaments !  such  devotion  to  the  ladies  ! 
such  courting  and  serenading  !  " 

The  curiosity  of  Zayda  was  fully  aroused.  She  was  insati 
able  in  her  inquiries,  and  drew  from  the  duenna  the  most  ani 
mated  pictures  of  the  scenes  of  her  youthful  days  and  native 
land.  The  beautiful  Zorayda  bridled  up,  and  slyly  regarded 
herself  in  a  mirror,  when  the  theme  turned  upon  the  charms 
of  the  Spanish  ladies ;  while  Zorahayda  suppressed  a  strug 
gling  sigh  at  the  mention  of  moonlight  serenades. 

Every  day  the  curious  Zayda  renewed  her  inquiries  ;  and 
every  day  the  sage  duenna  repeated  her  stories,  which  were  lis 
tened  to  with  profound  interest,  though  with  frequent  sighs, 
by  her  gentle  auditors.  The  discreet  old  woman  awoke  at 
length  to  the  mischief  she  might  be  doing.  She  had  been  ac 
customed  to  think  of  the  princesses  only  as  children,  but  they 
had  imperceptibly  ripened  beneath  her  eye,  and  now  bloomed 
before  her  three  lovely  damsels  of  the  marriageable  age.  —  It  is 
time,  thought  the  duenna,  to  give  notice  to  the  king. 

Mohamed  the  left-handed  was  seated  one  morning  on  a 
divan  in  a  cool  hall  of  the  Alhambra,  when  a  slave  arrived 
from  the  fortress  of  Salobrena,  with  a  message  from  the  sage 
Kadiga,  congratulating  him  on  the  anniversary  of  his  daugh 
ters'  birthday.  The  slave  at  the  same  time  presented  a  delicate 
little  basket  decorated  with  flowers,  within  which,  on  a  couch 
of  vine  and  fig  leaves,  lay  a  peach,  an  apricot,  and  a  nectarine, 
with  their  bloom  and  down,  and  dewy  sweetness  upon  them, 
and  all  in  the  early  stage  of  tempting  ripeness.  The  monarch 
was  versed  in  the  Oriental  language  of  fruits  and  flowers,  and 
rapidly  divined  the  meaning  of  this  emblematical  offering. 

"So,"  said  he,  "the  critical  period  pointed  out  by  the  as 
trologers  is  arrived.  —  My  daughters  are  at  a  marriageable  age. 
What  is  to  be  done  ?  They  are  shut  up  from  the  eyes  of  men, 
—  they  are  under  the  eyes  of  the  discreet  Kadiga —  all  very 
good  —  but  still  they  are  not  under  my  own  eye,  as  was  pre 
scribed  by  the  astrologers.  —  '  I  must  gather  them  under  my 
wing,  and  trust  to  no  other  guardianship.' '' 

So  saying,  he  ordered  that  a  tower  of  the  Alhambra  should 
be  prepared  for  their  reception,  and  departed  at  the  head  of 


LEGEND   OF  THE   THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES.     189 

his  guards  for  the  fortress  of  Salobrena,  to  conduct  them  home 
in  person. 

About  three  years  had  elapsed  since  Mohamed  had  beheld 
his  daughters,  and  he  could  scarcely  credit  his  eyes  at  the  won 
derful  change  which  that  small  space  of  time  had  made  in 
their  appearance.  During  the  interval  they  had  passed  that 
wondrous  boundary  line  in  female  life,  which  separates  the 
crude,  unformed,  and  thoughtless  girl  from  the  blooming, 
blushing,  meditative  woman.  It  is  like  passing  from  the  flat, 
bleak,  uninteresting  plains  of  La  Mancha  to  the  voluptuous 
valleys  and  swelling  hills  of  Andalusia. 

Zayda  was  tall  and  finely  formed,  with  a  lofty  demeanor 
and  a  penetrating  eye.  She  entered  with  a  stately  and  de 
cided  step  ;  and  made  a  profound  reverence  to  Mohamed, 
treating  him  more  as  her  sovereign  than  her  father.  Zorayda 
was  of  the  middle  height,  with  an  alluring  look  and  swimming 
gait,  and  a  sparkling  beauty  heightened  by  the  assistance  of 
the  toilet.  She  approached  her  father  with  a  smile,  kissed 
his  hand,  and  saluted  him  with  several  stanzas  from  a  popular 
Arabian  poet,  with  which  the  monarch  was  delighted.  Zora- 
hayda  was  shy  and  timid ;  smaller  than  her  sisters,  and  with 
a  beauty  of  that  tender,  beseeching  kind  which  looks  for  fond 
ness  and  protection.  She  was  little  fitted  to  command  like 
her  elder  sister,  or  to  dazzle  like  the  second ;  but  was  rather 
formed  to  creep  to  the  bosom  of  manly  affection,  to  nestle 
within  it,  and  be  content.  She  drew  near  to  her  father  with 
a  timid  and  almost  faltering  step,  and  would  have  taken  his 
hand  to  kiss,  but  on  looking  up  into  his  face,  and  seeing  it 
beaming  with  a  paternal  smile,  the  tenderness  of  her  nature 
broke  forth,  and  she  threw  herself  upon  his  neck. 

Mohamed.  the  left-handed,  surveyed  his  blooming  daughters 
with  mingled  pride  and  perplexity  ;  for  while  he  exulted  in 
their  charms,  he  bethought  himself  of  the  prediction  of  the 
astrologers.  "  Three  daughters  !  —  three  daughters  !  "  mut 
tered  he,  repeatedly  to  himself,  "  and  all  of  a  marriageable 
age  !  Here's  tempting  Hesperian  fruit,  that  requires  a  dragon 
watch  !  " 

He  prepared  for  his  return  to  Granada,  by  sending  heralds 
before  him,  commanding  every  one  to  keep  out  of  the  road  by 
which  he  was  to  pass,  and  that  all  doors  and  windows  should 
be  closed  at  the  approach  of  the  princesses.  This  done,  he  set 
forth  escorted  by  a  troop  of  black  horsemen  of  hideous  aspect, 
and  clad  in  shining  armor. 

The  princesses  rode  beside  the  king,  closely  veiled,  on  beauti- 


190  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

ful  white  palfreys,  with,  velvet  caparisons  embroidered  with 
gold,  and  sweeping  the  ground ;  the  bits  and  stirrups  were  of 
gold,  and  the  silken  bridles  adorned  with  pearls  and  precious 
stones.  The  palfreys  were  covered  with  little  silver  bells 
which  made  the  most  musical  tinkling  as  they  ambled  gently 
along.  Woe  to  the  unlucky  wight,  however,  who  lingered  in 
the  way  when  he  heard  the  tinkling  of  these  bells — the 
guards  were  ordered  to  cut  him  down  without  mercy. 

The  cavalcade  was  drawing  near  to  Granada,  when  it  over 
took,  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Xenil,  a  small  body  of  Moorish 
soldiers,  with  a  convoy  of  prisoners.  It  was  too  late  for  the 
soldiers  to  get  out  of  the  way,  so  they  threw  themselves  on 
their  faces  on  the  earth,  ordering  their  captives  to  do  the  like. 
Among  the  prisoners,  were  the  three  identical  cavaliers  whom 
the  princesses  had  seen  from  the  pavilion.  They  either  did 
not  understand,  or  were  too  haughty  to  obey  the  order,  and 
remained  standing  and  gazing  upon  the  cavalcade  as  it  ap 
proached. 

The  ire  of  the  monarch  was  kindled  at  this  flagrant  defiance 
of  his  orders.  Drawing  his  cimeter  and  pressing  forward,  he 
was  about  to  deal  a  left-handed  blow,  that  might  have  been 
fatal  to  at  least  one  of  the  gazers,  when  the  princesses  crowded 
round  him,  and  implored  mercy  for  the  prisoners ;  even  the 
timid  Zorahayda  forgot  her  shyness  and  became  eloquent  in 
their  behalf.  Mohamed  paused,  with  uplifted  cimeter,  when 
the  captain  of  the  guard  threw  himself  at  his  feet.  "Let  not 
your  highness,"  said  he,  "  do  a  deed  that  may  cause  great 
scandal  throughout  the  kingdom.  These  are  three  brave  and 
noble  Spanish  knights  who  have  been  taken  in  battle,  fighting 
like  lions  ;  they  are  of  high  birth,  and  may  bring  great  ran 
soms." 

"  Enough,"  said  the  king ;  "  I  will  spare  their  lives,  but 
punish  their  audacity  —  let  them  be  taken  to  the  Vermilion 
towers  and  put  to  hard  labor." 

Mohamed  was  making  one  of  his  usual  left-handed  blunders. 
In  the  tumult  and  agitation  of  this  blustering  scene,  the  veils 
of  the  three  princesses  had  been  thrown  back,  and  the  radiance 
of  their  beauty  revealed ;  and  in  prolonging  the  parley,  the 
king  had  given  that  beauty  time  to  have  its  full  effect.  In 
those  days,  people  fell  in  love  much  more  suddenly  than  at 
present,  as  all  ancient  stories  make  manifest ;  it  is  not  a  mat 
ter  of  wonder,  therefore,  that  the  hearts  of  the  three  cavaliers 
were  completely  captured  ;  especially  as  gratitude  was  added 
to  their  admiration  :  it  is  a  little  singular,  however,  though 


LEGEND   OF  THE   THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES.     191 

no  less  certain,  that  each  of  them  was  enraptured  with  a 
several  beauty.  As  to  the  princesses,  they  were  more  than 
ever  struck  with  the  noble  demeanor  of  the  captives,  and 
cherished  in  their  breasts  all  that  they  had  heard  of  their 
valor  and  noble  lineage. 

The  cavalcade  resumed  its  march ;  the  three  princesses  rode 
pensively  along  on  their  tinkling  palfreys,  now  and  then  steal 
ing  a  glance  behind  in  search  of  the  Christian  captives,  and 
the  latter  were  conducted  to  their  allotted  prison  in  the  Ver 
milion  towers. 

The  residence  provided  for  the  princesses,  was  one  of  the 
most  dainty  that  fancy  could  devise.  It  was  in  a  tower  some 
what  apart  from  the  main  palace  of  the  Alhambra,  though 
connected  with  it  by  the  wall  which  encircled  the  whole  sum 
mit  of  the  hill.  On  one  side  it  looked  into  the  interior  of 
the  fortress,  and  had  at  its  foot  a  small  garden  filled  with  the 
rarest  flowers.  On  the  other  side  it  overlooked  a  deep 
embowered  ravine,  separating  the  grounds  of  the  Alhambra 
from  those  of  the  Generalife.  The  interior  of  the  tower  was 
divided  into  small  fairy  apartments,  beautifully  ornamented 
in  the  light  Arabian  style,  surrounding  a  lofty  hall,  the  vaulted 
roof  of  which  rose  almost  to  the  summit  of  the  tower.  The 
walls  and  the  ceilings  of  the  hall  were  adorned  with  ara 
besques  and  fretwork  sparkling  with  gold,  and  with  brilliant 
pencilling.  In  the  centre  of  the  marble  pavement,  was  an 
alabaster  fountain,  set  round  with  aromatic  shrubs  and  flowers, 
and  throwing  up  a  jet  of  water  that  cooled  the  whole  edifice 
and  had  a  lulling  sound.  Bound  the  hall  were  suspended 
cages  of  gold  and  silver  wire,  containing  singing  birds  of  the 
finest  plumage  or  sweetest  note. 

The  princesses  had  been  represented  as  always  cheerful 
when  in  the  castle  of  Salobvena  ;  the  king  had  expected  to 
see  them  enraptured  with  the  Alhambra.  To  his  surprise, 
however,  they  began  to  pine,  and  grow  melancholy,  and  dis 
satisfied  with  everything  around  them.  The  flowers  yielded 
them  no  fragrance ;  the  song  of  the  nightingale  disturbed 
their  night's  rest,  and  they  were  out  of  all  patience  with  the 
alabaster  fountain,  with  its  eternal  drop,  drop,  and  splash, 
splash,  from  morning  till  night,  and  from  night  till  morning. 

The  king,  who  was  somewhat  of  a  testy,  tyrannical  disposi 
tion,  took  this  at  first  in  high  dudgeon  ;  but  he  reflected  that, 
his  daughters  had  arrived  at  an  age  when  the  female  mind 
expands  and  its  desires  augment.  "  They  are  no  longer  chil 
dren,"  said  he  to  himself;  "they  are  women  grown,  and 


192  THE  ALHAMBEA. 

require  suitable  objects  to  interest  them."  He  put  in  requisi 
tion,  therefore,  all  the  dressmakers,  and  the  jewellers,  and  the 
artificers  in  gold  and  silver  throughout  the  Zacatin  of  Gra 
nada,  and  the  princesses  were  overwhelmed  with  robes  of 
silk,  and  tissue  and  brocade,  and  cashmere  shawls,  and  neck 
laces  of  pearls,  and  diamonds,  and  rings,  and  bracelets,  and 
anklets,  and  all  manner  of  precious  things. 

All,  however,  was  of  no  avail.  The  princesses  continued  pale 
and  languid  in  the  midst  of  their  finery,  and  looked  like  three 
blighted  rosebuds,  drooping  from  one  stalk.  The  king  was  at 
his  wit's  end.  He  had  in  general  a  laudable  confidence  in 
his  own  judgment,  and  never  took  advice.  "  The  whims  and 
caprices  of  three  marriageable  damsels,  however,  are  sufficient/' 
said  he,  "  to  puzzle  the  shrewdest  head."  —  So,  for  once  in 
his  life,  he  called  in  the  aid  of  counsel. 

The  person  to  whom  he  applied  was  the  experienced 
duenna. 

"  Kadiga,"  said  the  king,  "  I  know  you  to  be  one  of  the 
most  discreet  women  in  the  whole  world,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
most  trustworthy ;  for  these  reasons,  I  have  always  continued 
you  about  the  persons  of  my  daughters.  Fathers  cannot  be 
too  wary  in  whom  they  repose  such  confidence.  I  now  wish 
you  to  find  out  the  secret  malady  that  is  preying  upon  the 
princesses,  and  to  devise  some  means  of  restoring  them  to 
health  and  cheerfulness." 

Kadiga  promised  implicit  obedience.  In  fact,  she  knew 
more  of  the  malady  of  the  princesses  than  they  did  themselves. 
Shutting  herself  up  with  them,  however,  she  endeavored  to 
insinuate  herself  into  their  confidence. 

"  My  dear  children,  what  is  the  reason  you  are  so  dismal 
and  downcast,  in  so  beautiful  a  place,  where  you  have  every 
thing  that  heart  can  wish  ?  " 

The  princesses  looked  vacantly  round  the  apartment,  and 
sighed. 

"  What  more,  then,  would  you  have  ?  Shall  I  get  you  the 
wonderful  parrot  that  talks  all  languages,  and  is  the  delight 
of  Granada  ?  " 

"  Odious  !  "  exclaimed  the  princess  Zayda.  "  A  horrid 
screaming  bird  that  chatters  words  without  ideas !  One  must 
be  without  brains  to  tolerate  such  a  pest." 

"  Shall  I  send  for  a  monkey  from  the  rock  of  Gibraltar,  to 
divert  you  with  his  antics  ?  " 

"  A  monkey  !  faugh  .' "  cried  Zorayda,  "  the  detestable  mimic 
of  man.  I  hate  the  nauseous  animal." 


LEGEND  OF  THE  THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES.    198 

"  What  say  you  to  the  famous  black  singer,  Casern,  from 
the  royal  harem  in  Morocco.  They  say  he  has  a  voice  as  tine 
as  a  woman's." 

"  I  am  terrified  at  the  sight  of  these  black  slaves,"  said  the 
delicate  Zorahayda ;  "  besides,  I  have  lost  all  relish  for  music." 

"  Ah,  my  child,  you  would  not  say  so,"  replied  the  old  woman, 
slyly,  "  had  you  heard  the  music  I  heard  last  evening,  from 
the  three  Spanish  cavaliers  whom  we  met  on  our  journey.  — 
But  bless  me,  children !  what  is  the  matter  that  you  blush  so, 
and  are  in  such  a  nutter  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  nothing,  good  mother,  pray  proceed." 

"  Well  —  as  I  was  passing  by  the  Vermilion  towers,  last 
evening,  I  saw  the  three  cavaliers  resting  after  their  day's 
labor.  One  was  playing  on  the  guitar  so  gracefully,  and  the 
others  sang  by  turns  —  and  they  did  it  in  such  style,  that 
the  very  guards  seemed  like  statues  or  men  enchanted.  Allah 
forgive  me,  I  could  not  help  being  moved  at  hearing  the  songs 
of  my  native  country.  —  And  then  to  see  three  such  noble  and 
handsome  youths  in  chains  and  slavery." 

Here  the  kind-hearted  old  woman  could  not  restrain  her 
tears. 

"  Perhaps,  mother,  you  could  manage  to  procure  us  a  sight 
of  these  cavaliers,"  said  Zayda. 

"  I  think,"  said  Zorayda,  "  a  little  music  would  be  quite 
reviving." 

The  timid  Zorahayda  said  nothing,  but  threw  her  arms 
around  the  neck  of  Kadiga. 

"  Mercy  on  me  !  "  exclaimed  the  discreet  old  woman ;  "  what 
are  you  talking  of,  my  children  ?  Your  father  would  be  the 
death  of  us  all,  if  he  heard  of  such  a  thing.  To  be  sure,  these 
cavaliers  are  evidently  well-bred  and  high-minded  youths  — 
but  what  of  that !  they  are  the  enemies  of  our  faith,  and  you 
must  not  even  think  of  them,  but  with  abhorrence." 

There  is  an  admirable  intrepidity  in  the  female  will,  particu 
larly  when  about  the  marriageable  age,  which  is  not  to  be 
deterred  by  dangers  and  prohibitions.  The  princesses  hung 
round  their  old  duenna,  and  coaxed  and  entreated,  and  de 
clared  that  a  refusal  would  break  their  hearts.  What  could 
she  do  ?  She  was  certainly  the  most  discreet  old  woman  in 
the  whole  world,  and  one  of  the  most  faithful  servants  to  the 
king  —  but  was  she  to  see  three  beautiful  princesses  break 
their  hearts  for  the  mere  tinkling  of  a  guitar  ?  Beside,  though 
she  had  been  so  long  among  the  Moors,  and  changed  her  faith, 
in  imitation  of  her  mistress,  like  a  trusty  follower,  yet  she 


194  THE  ALSAMBRA. 

was  a  Spaniard  born,  and  had  the  lingerings  of  Christianity 
in  her  heart.  So  she  set  about  to  contrive  how  the  wish  of 
the  princesses  might  be  gratified. 

The  Christian  captives  confined  in  the  Vermilion  towers, 
were  under  the  charge  of  a  big-whiskered,  broad-shouldered 
renegado,  called  Hussein  Baba,  who  was  reputed  to  have  a 
most  itching  palm.  She  went  to  him,  privately,  and  slipping 
a  broad  piece  of  gold  into  his  hand,  "Hussein  Baba,"  said 
she,  "  my  mistresses,  the  three  princesses,  who  are  shut  up  in 
the  tower,  and  in  sad  want  of  amusement,  have  heard  of  the 
musical  talents  of  the  three  Spanish  cavaliers,  and  are  desi 
rous  of  hearing  a  specimen  of  their  skill.  I  am  sure  you  are 
too  kind-hearted  to  refuse  them  so  innocent  a  gratification." 

"  What,  and  to  have  my  head  set  grinning  over  the  gate  of 
my  own  tower  —  for  that  would  be  the  reward,  if  the  king 
should  discover  it." 

"No  danger  of  anything  of  the  kind;  the  affair  may  be 
managed  so  that  the  whim  of  the  princesses  may  be  gratified, 
and  their  father  be  never  the  wiser.  You  know  the  deep 
ravine  outside  of  the  walls,  which  passes  immediately  below 
the  tower.  Put  the  three  Christians  to  work  there,  and  at  the 
intervals  of  their  labor  let  them  play  and  sing,  as  if  for  their 
own  recreation.  In  this  way,  the  princesses  will  be  able  to 
hear  them  from  the  windows  of  the  tower,  and  you  may  be 
sure  of  their  paying  well  for  your  compliance." 

As  the  good  old  woman  concluded  her  harangue,  she  kindly 
pressed  the  rough  hand  of  the  renegado,  and  left  within  it 
another  piece  of  gold. 

Her  eloquence  was  irresistible.  The  very  next  day  the 
three  cavaliers  were  put  to  work  in  the  ravine.  During 
the  noontide  heat  when  their  fellow  laborers  were  sleeping  in 
the  shade,  and  the  guard  nodding  drowsily  at  his  post,  they 
seated  themselves  among  the  herbage  at  the  foot  of  the  tower, 
and  sang  a  Spanish  roundelay  to  the  accompaniment  of  the 
guitar. 

The  glen  was  deep,  the  tower  was  high,  but  their  voices  rose 
distinctly  in  the  stillness  of  the  summer  noon.  The  princesses 
listened  from  their  balcony  ;  they  had  been  taught  the  Spanish 
language  by  their  duenna,  and  were  moved  by  the  tenderness 
of  the  song. 

The  discreet  Kadiga,  on  the  contrary,  was  terribly  shocked. 
"  Allah  preserve  us,"  cried  she,  "  they  are  singing  a  love  ditty 
addressed  to  yourselves,  —  did  ever  mortal  hear  of  such  au 
dacity  ?  I  will  run  to  the  slave  master  and  have  them  soundly 
bastinadoed." 


LEGEND   OF  THE   THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES.    195 

"  What,  bastinado  such  gallant  cavaliers,  and  for  singing  so 
charmingly  ?  "  The  three  beautiful  princesses  were  filled 
with  horror  at  the  idea.  With  all  her  virtuous  indignation, 
the  good  old  woman  was  of  a  placable  nature  and  easily  ap 
peased.  Beside,  the  music  seemed  to  have  a  beneficial  effect 
upon  her  young  mistresses.  A  rosy  bloom  had  already  come 
to  their  cheeks,  and  their  eyes  began  to  sparkle.  She  made 
no  further  objection,  therefore,  to  the  amorous  ditty  of  the 
cavaliers. 

When  it  was  finished,  the  princesses  remained  silent  for  a 
time ;  at  length  Zorayda  took  up  a  lute,  and  with  a  sweet, 
though  faint  and  trembling  voice,  warbled  a  little  Arabian 
air,  the  burden  of  which  was,  "  The  rose  is  concealed  among 
her  leaves,  but  she  listens  with  delight  to  the  song  of  the 
nightingale." 

From  this  time  forward  the  cavaliers  worked  almost  daily 
in  the  ravine.  The  considerate  Hussein  Baba  became  more 
and  more  indulgent,  and  daily  more  prone  to  sleep  at  his  post. 
For  some  time  a  vague  intercourse  was  kept  up  by  popular 
songs  and  romances ;  which  in  some  measure  responded  to 
each  other,  and  breathed  the  feelings  of  the  parties.  By 
degrees  the  princesses  showed  themselves  at  the  balcony, 
when  they  could  do  so  without  being  perceived  by  the  guards. 
They  conversed  with  the  cavaliers  also  by  means  of  flowers, 
with  the  symbolical  language  of  which  they  were  mutually 
acquainted :  the  difficulties  of  their  intercourse  added  to  its 
charms,  and  strengthened  the  passion  they  had  so  singularly 
conceived",  for  love  delights  to  struggle  with  difficulties,  and 
thrives  the  most  hardily  on  the  scantiest  soil. 

The  change  effected  in  the  looks  and  spirits  of  the  prin 
cesses  by  this  secret  intercourse,  surprised  and  gratified  the 
left-handed  king ;  but  no  one  was  more  elated  than  the  dis 
creet  Kadiga,  who  considered  it  all  owing  to  her  able  manage 
ment. 

At  length  there  was  an  interruption  in  this  telegraphic  cor 
respondence  :  for  several  days  the  cavaliers  ceased  to  make 
their  appearance  in  the  glen.  The  princesses  looked  out  from 
the  tower  in  vain.  —  In  vain  they  stretched  their  swan-like 
necks  from  the  balcony  ;  in  vain  they  sang  like  captive  night 
ingales  in  their  cage  ;  nothing  was  to  be  seen  of  their  Chris 
tian  lovers,  not  a  note  responded  from  the  groves.  The 
discreet  Kadiga  sallied  forth  in  quest  of  intelligence,  and  soon 
returned  with  a  face  full  of  trouble.  "  Ah,  my  children  ! " 
cried  she,  "  I  saw  what  all  this  would  come  to,  but  you  would 


196  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

have  your  way  ;  you  may  now  hang  up  your  lutes  on  the  wil 
lows.  The  Spanish  cavaliers  are  ransomed  by  their  families ; 
they  are  down  in  Granada,  and  preparing  to  return  to  their 
native  country." 

The  three  beautiful  princesses  were  in  dispair  at  the  tid 
ings.  Zayda  was  indignant  at  the  slight  put  upon  them,  in 
thus  being  deserted  without  a  parting  word.  Zorayda  wrung 
her  hands  and  cried,  and  looked  in  the  glass,  and  wiped  away 
her  tears,  and  cried  afresh.  The  gentle  Zorahayda  leaned 
over  the  balcony,  and  wept  in  silence,  and  her  tears  fell  drop 
by  drop,  among  the  flowers  of  the  bank  where  the  faithless 
cavaliers  had  so  often  been  seated. 

The  discreet  Kadiga  did  all  in  her  power  to  soothe  their  sor 
row.  "  Take  comfort,  my  children,"  said  she,  "  this  is  nothing 
when  you  are  used  to  it.  This  is  the  way  of  the  world.  Ah, 
when  you  are  as  old  as  I  am,  you  will  know  how  to  value  these 
men.  I'll  warrant  these  cavaliers  have  their  loves  among  the 
Spanish  beauties  of  Cordova  and  Seville,  and  will  soon  be  sere 
nading  under  their  balconies,  and  thinking  no  more  of  the 
Moorish  beauties  in  the  Alhambra. —  Take  comfort,  therefore, 
my  children,  and  drive  them  from  your  hearts." 

The  comforting  words  of  the  discreet  Kadiga  only  redoubled 
the  distress  of  the  three  princesses,  and  for  two  days  they 
continued  inconsolable.  On  the  morning  of  the  third,  the 
good  old  woman  entered  their  apartment  all  ruffling  with  in 
dignation. 

"  Who  would  have  believed  such  insolence  in  mortal  man  ?  " 
exclaimed  she,  as  soon  as  she  could  find  words  to  express  her 
self  ;  "  but  I  am  rightly  served  for  having  connived  at  this  de 
ception  of  your  worthy  father  —  never  talk  more  to  me  of 
your  Spanish  cavaliers." 

"  Why,  what  has  happened,  good  Kadiga?"  exclaimed  the 
princesses,  in  breathless  anxiety. 

"  What  has  happened  ?  treason  has  happened  !  —  or  what  is 
almost  as  bad,  treason  has  been  proposed  —  and  to  me  —  the 
most  faithful  of  subjects  —  the  trustiest  of  duennas  —  yes,  my 
children  —  the  Spanish  cavaliers  have  dared  to  tamper  with 
me  ;  that  I  should  persuade  you  to  fly  with  them  to  Cordova, 
and  become  their  wives." 

Here  the  excellent  old  woman  covered  her  face  with  her 
hands,  and  gave  way  to  a  violent  burst  of  grief  and  indigna 
tion. 

The  three  beautiful  princesses  turned  pale  and  red,  pale  and 
red,  and  trembled,  and  looked  down ;  and  cast  shy  looks  at 


LEGEND   OF  THE   THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES.     197 

each  other,  but  said  nothing :  meantime,  the  old  woman  sat 
rocking  backward  and  forward  in  violent  agitation,  and  now 
and  then  breaking  out  into  exclamations  — "  That  ever  I 
should  live  to  be  so  insulted  —  I,  the  most  faithful  of  ser 
vants  ! " 

At  length  the  eldest  princess,  who  had  most  spirit,  and 
always  took  the  lead,  approached  her,  and  laying  her  hand 
upon  her  shoulder  —  "Well,  mother,"  said  she,  "  supposing  we 
were  willing  to  fly  with  these  Christian  cavaliers  —  is  such  a 
thing  possible  ?  " 

The  good  old  woman  paused  suddenly  in  her  grief,  and  look 
ing  up  —  "  Possible  ! "  echoed  she,  "  to  be  sure  it  is  possible. 
Have  not  the  cavaliers  already  bribed  Hussein  Baba,  the  rene- 
gado  captain  of  the  guard,  and  arranged  the  whole  plan  ?  — 
But  then  to  think  of  deceiving  your  father  —  your  father,  who 
has  placed  such  confidence  in  me  ?  " 

Here  the  worthy  woman  gave  way  to  a  fresh  burst  of  grief, 
and  began  again  to  rock  backwards  and  forwards,  and  to 
wring  her  hands. 

"  But  our  father  has  never  placed  any  confidence  in  us," 
said  the  eldest  princess ;  "  but  has  trusted  to  bolts  and  bars, 
and  treated  us  as  captives." 

"  Why,  that  is  true  enough,"  replied  the  old  woman,  again 
pausing  in  her  grief  —  "  He  has  indeed  treated  you  most  un 
reasonably.  Keeping  you  shut  up  here  to  waste  your  bloom 
in  a  moping  old  tower,  like  roses  left  to  wither  in  a  flower  jar. 
But  then  to  fly  from  your  native  land." 

"  And  is  not  the  land  we  fly  to,  the  native  land  of  our 
mother ;  where  we  shall  live  in  freedom  ?  —  and  shall  we  not 
each  have  a  youthful  husband  in  exchange  for  a  severe  old 
father  ?  " 

"  Why,  that  again  is  all  very  true  —  and  your  father,  I  must 
confess,  is  rather  tyrannical.  —  But  what  then  "  —  relapsing 
into  her  grief  —  "  would  you  leave  me  behind  to  bear  the  brunt 
of  his  vengeance  ?  " 

"By no  means,  my  good  Kadiga.    Cannot  you  fly  with  us  ?  " 

"  Very  true,  my  child,  and  to  tell  the  truth,  when  I  talked 
the  matter  over  with  Hussein  Baba,  he  promised  to  take  care 
of  me  if  I  would  accompany  you  in  your  flight :  but  then,  be 
think  you,  my  children  ;  are  you  willing  to  renounce  the  faith 
of  your  father  ?  " 

"The  Christian  faith  was  the  original  faith  of  our  mother," 
said  the  eldest  princess  ;  "  I  am  ready  to  embrace  it ;  and  so  I 
am  sure  are  my  sisters." 


198  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

"  Bight  again  ! "  exclaimed  the  old  woman,  brightening  up. 
"  It  was  the  original  faith  of  your  mother ;  and  bitterly  did 
she  lament,  on  her  death-bed,  that  she  had  renounced  it.  I 
promised  her  then  to  take  care  of  your  souls,  and  I  rejoice  to 
see  that  they  are  now  in  a  fair  way  to  be  saved.  Yes,  my 
children ;  I  too  was  born  a  Christian  —  and  have  remained  a 
Christian  in  my  heart ;  and  am  resolved  to  return  to  the  faith. 
I  have  talked  on  the  subject  with  Hussein  Baba,  who  is  a 
Spaniard  by  birth,  and  comes  from  a  place  not  far  from  my 
native  town.  He  is  equally  anxious  to  see  his  own  country 
and  to  be  reconciled  to  the  church,  and  the  cavaliers  have 
promised  that  if  we  are  disposed  to  become  man  and  wife  on 
returning  to  our  native  land,  they  will  provide  for  us  hand 
somely." 

In  a  word,  it  appeared  that  this  extremely  discreet  and 
provident  old  woman  had  consulted  with  the  cavaliers  and  the 
renegado/and  had  concerted  the  whole  plan  of  escape.  The 
eldest  princess  immediately  assented  to  it,  and  her  example 
as  usual  determined  the  conduct  of  her  sisters.  It  is  true,  the 
youngest  hesitated,  for  she  was  gentle  and  timid  of  soul,  and 
there  was  a  struggle  in  her  bosom  between  filial  feeling  and 
youthful  passion.  The  latter  however,  as  usual,  gained  the 
victory,  and  with  silent  tears  and  stifled  sighs  she  prepared 
herself  for  flight. 

The  rugged  hill  on  which  the  Alhambra  is  built  was  in  old 
times  perforated  with  subterranean  passages,  cut  through  the 
rock,  and  leading  from  the  fortress  to  various  parts  of  the 
city,  and  to  distant  sally-ports  on  the  banks  of  the  Darro  and 
the  Xenil.  They  had  been  constructed  at  different  times,  by 
the  Moorish  kings,  as  means  of  escape  from  sudden  insurrec 
tions,  or  of  secretly  issuing  forth  on  private  enterprises. 
Many  of  them  are  now  entirely  lost,  while  others  remain, 
partly  choked  with  rubbish,  and  partly  walled  up  —  monu 
ments  of  the  jealous  precautions  and  warlike  stratagems  of 
the  Moorish  government.  By  one  of  these  passages,  Hussein 
Baba  had  untertaken  to  conduct  the  princesses  to  a  sally-port 
beyond  the  walls  of  the  city,  where  the  cavaliers  were  to  be 
ready  with  fleet  steeds  to  bear  the  whole  party  over  the 
borders. 

The  appointed  night  arrived.  The  tower  of  the  princesses 
had  been  locked  up  as  usual,  and  the  Alhambra  was  buried  in 
deep  sleep.  Towards  midnight  the  discreet  Kadiga  listened 
from  the  balcony  of  a  window  that  looked  into  the  garden. 
Hussein  Baba,  the  renegado,  was  already  below,  and  gave  the 


LEGEND   OF  THE  THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES.    199 

appointed  signal.  The  duenna  fastened  the  end  of  a  ladder  of 
ropes  to  the  balcony,  lowered  it  into  the  garden,  and  descended. 
The  two  eldest  princesses  followed  her  with  beating  hearts ; 
but  when  it  came  to  the  turn  of  the  youngest  princess, 
Zorahayda,  she  hesitated  and  trembled.  Several  times  she 
ventured  a  delicate  little  foot  upon  the  ladder,  and  as  often 
drew  it  back ;  while  her  poor  little  heart  fluttered  more  and 
more  the  longer  she  delayed.  She  cast  a  wistful  look  back 
into  the  silken  chamber;  she  had  lived  in  it,  to  be  sure,  like  a 
bird  in  a  cage,  but  within  it  she  was  secure  —  who  could  tell 
what  dangers  might  beset  her  should  she  flutter  forth  into  the 
wide  world  ?  Now  she  bethought  her  of  her  gallant  Christian 
lover,  and  her  little  foot  was  instantly  upon  the  ladder,  and 
anon  she  thought  of  her  father,  and  shrank  back.  But 
fruitless  is  the  attempt  to  describe  the  conflict  in  the  bosom 
of  one  so  young,  and  tender,  and  loving,  but  so  timid  and  so 
ignorant  of  the  world.  In  vain  her  sisters  implored,  the 
duenna  scolded,  and  the  renegado  blasphemed  beneath  the 
balcony.  The  gentle  little  Moorish  maid  stood  doubting  and 
wavering  on  the  verge  of  elopement ;  tempted  by  the  sweetness 
of  the  sin,  but  terrified  at  its  perils. 

Every  moment  increased  the  danger  of  discovery.  A  dis 
tant  tramp  was  heard.  — "  The  patrols  are  walking  their 
rounds,"  cried  the  renegado;  "if  we  linger  we  perish  —  prin 
cess,  descend  instantly,  or  we  leave  you." 

Zorahayda  was  for  a  moment  in  fearful  agitation,  then  loos 
ening  the  ladder  of  ropes,  with  desperate  resolution  she  flung 
it  from  the  balcony. 

11  It  is  decided,"  cried  she,  "  flight  is  now  out  of  my  power ! 
—  Allah  guide  and  bless  ye,  my  dear  sisters  !  " 

The  two  eldest  princesses  were  shocked  at  the  thoughts  of 
leaving  her  behind,  and  would  fain  have  lingered,  but  the 
patrol  was  advancing ;  the  renegado  was  furious,  and  they 
were  hurried  away  to  the  subterraneous  passage.  They  groped 
their  way  through  a  fearful  labyrinth  cut  through  the  heart 
of  the  mountain,  and  succeeded  in  reaching,  undiscovered,  an 
iron  gate  that  opened  outside  of  the  walls.  The  Spanish 
cavaliers  were  waiting  to  receive  them,  disguised  as  Moorish 
soldiers  of  the  guard  commanded  by  the  renegado. 

The  lover  of  Zorahayda  was  frantic  when  he  learned  that 
she  had  refused  to  leave  the  tower ;  but  there  was  no  time  to 
waste  in  lamentations.  The  two  princesses  were  placed  be 
hind  their  lovers  ;  the  discreet  Kadiga  mounted  behind  the 
renegado,  and  they  all  set  off  at  a  round  pace  in  the  direction 


200  THE  ALHAMBBA. 

of  the  pass  of  Lope,  which  leads  through  the  mountains 
towards  Cordova. 

They  had  not  proceeded  far  when  they  heard  the  noise  of 
drums  and  trumpets  from  the  battlements  of  the  Alhambra. 
"Our  flight  is  discovered,"  said  the  renegade.  "We  have 
fleet  steeds,  the  night  is  dark,  and  we  may  distance  all  pur 
suit,"  replied  the  cavaliers. 

They  put  spurs  to  their  horses  and  scoured  across  the  Vega. 
They  attained  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain  of  Elvira,  which 
stretches  like  a  promontory  into  the  plain.  The  renegado 
paused  and  listened.  "As  yet,"  said  he,  "there  is  no  one  on 
our  traces,  we  shall  make  good  our  escape  to  the  mountains." 
While  he  spoke  a  light  blaze  sprang  up  on  the  top  of  the 
watch-tower  of  the  Alhambra. 

"  Confusion  ! "  cried  the  renegado,  "  that  bale  fire  will  put 
all  the  guards  of  the  passes  on  the  alert.  Away,  away,  spur 
like  mad ;  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost." 

Away  they  dashed  —  the  clattering  of  their  horses'  hoofs 
echoed  from  rock  to  rock  as  they  swept  along  the  road  that 
skirts  the  rocky  mountain  of  Elvira.  As  they  galloped  on, 
the  bale  fire  of  the  Alhambra  was  answered  in  every  direc 
tion  ;  light  after  light  blazed  on  the  atalayas  or  watch-towers 
of  the  mountains. 

"  Forward  !  forward  ! "  cried  the  renegado,  with  many  an 
oath —  "to  the  bridge  !  —  to  the  bridge  !  before  the  alarm  has 
reached  there." 

They  doubled  the  promontory  of  the  mountain,  and  arrived 
in  sight  of  the  famous  bridge  of  Pinos,  that  crosses  a  rushing 
stream  often  dyed  with  Christian  and  Moslem  blood.  To  their 
confusion  the  tower  on  the  bridge  blazed  with  lights  and  glit 
tered  with  armed  men.  The  renegado  pulled  up  his  steed,  rose 
in  his  stirrups  and  looked  about  him  for  a  moment,  then  beck 
oning  to  the  cavaliers  he  struck  off  from  the  road,  skirted  the 
river  for  some  distance,  and  dashed  into  its  waters.  The  cava 
liers  called  upon  the  princesses  to  cling  to  them,  and  did  the 
same.  They  were  borne  for  some  distance  down  the  rapid  cur 
rent,  the  surges  roared  round  them,  but  the  beautiful  princesses 
clung  to  their  Christian  knights  and  never  uttered  a  complaint. 
The  cavaliers  attained  the  opposite  bank  in  safety,  and  were 
conducted  by  the  renegado,  by  rude  and  unfrequented  paths, 
and  wild  barrancos  through  the  heart  of  the  mountains,  so  as 
to  avoid  all  the  regular  passes.  In  a  word,  they  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  ancient  city  of  Cordova ;  where  their  restoration 
to  their  country  and  friends  was  celebrated  with  great  rejoi- 


LEGEND  OF  THE  THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES.    201 

cings,  for  they  were  of  the  noblest  families.  The  beautiful 
princesses  were  forthwith  received  into  the  bosom  of  the 
church,  and  after  being  in  all  due  form  made  regular  Chris 
tians,  were  rendered  happy  wives. 

In  our  hurry  to  made  good  the  escape  of  the  princesses  across 
the  river  and  up  the  mountains,  we  forgot  to  mention  the  fate 
of  the  discreet  Kadiga.  She  had  clung  like  a  cat  to  Hussein 
Baba,  in  the  scamper  across  the  Vega,  screaming  at  every 
bound  and  drawing  many  an  oath  from  the  whiskered  rene- 
gado ;  but  when  he  prepared  to  plunge  his  steed  into  the  river 
her  terror  knew  no  bounds. 

"  Grasp  me  not  so  tightly,"  cried  Hussein  Baba ;  "  hold  on 
by  my  belt,  and  fear  nothing." 

She  held  firmly  with  both  hands  by  the  leathern  belt  that 
girded  the  broad-backed  renegado ;  but  when  he  halted  with 
the  cavaliers  to  take  breath  on  the  mountain  summit,  the 
duenna  was  no  longer  to  be  seen. 

"  What  has  become  of  Kadiga  ?  "  cried  the  princesses  in 
alarm. 

"  Allah  alone  knows,"  replied  the  renegado.  "  My  belt  came 
loose  when  in  the  midst  of  the  river,  and  Kadiga  was  swept 
with  it  down  the  stream.  The  will  of  Allah  be  done  !  —  but 
it  was  an  embroidered  belt  and  of  great  price  ! " 

There  was  no  time  to  waste  in  idle  regrets,  yet  bitterly  did 
the  princesses  bewail  the  loss  of  their  discreet  counsellor. 
That  excellent  old  woman,  however,  did  not  lose  more  than 
half  of  her  nine  lives  in  the  water.  —  A  fisherman  who  was 
drawing  his  net  some  distance  down  the  stream,  brought  her  to 
land  and  was  not  a  little  astonished  at  his  miraculous  draught. 
What  further  became  of  the  discreet  Kadiga,  the  legend  does 
not  mention. — Certain  it  is,  that  she  evinced  her  discretion 
in  never  venturing  within  the  reach  of  Mohamed  the  left- 
handed. 

Almost  as  little  is  known  of  the  conduct  of  that  sagacious 
monarch,  when  he  discovered  the  escape  of  his  daughters  and 
the  deceit  practised  upon  him  by  the  most  faithful  of  servants. 
It  was  the  only  instance  in  which  he  had  called  in  the  aid  of 
counsel,  and  he  was  never  afterwards  known  to  be  guilty  of  a 
similar  weakness.  He  took  good  care,  however,  to  guard  his 
remaining  daughter;  who  had  no  disposition  to  elope.  It  is 
thought,  indeed,  that  she  secretly  repented  having  remained 
behind.  Now  and  then  she  was  seen  leaning  on  the  battle 
ments  of  the  tower  and  looking  mournfully  towards  the  moun 
tains,  in  the  direction  of  Cordova ;  and  sometimes  the  notes 


202  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

of  her  lute  were  heard  accompanying  plaintive  ditties,  in 
which  she  was  said  to  lament  the  loss  of  her  sisters  and  her 
lover,  and  to  bewail  her  solitary  life.  She  died  young,  and, 
according  to  popular  rumor,  was  buried  in  a  vault  beneath  the 
tower,  and  her  untimely  fate  has  given  rise  to  more  than  one 
traditionary  fable. 

The  following  legend,  which  seems  in  some  measure  to 
spring  out  of  the  foregoing  story,  is  too  closely  connected  with 
high  historic  names  to  be  entirely  doubted.  The  Count's 
daughter,  and  some  of  her  young  companions,  to  whom  it  was 
read  in  one  of  the  evening  tertullias,  thought  certain  parts  of 
it  had  much  appearance  of  reality;  and  Dolores,  who  was 
much  more  versed  than  they  in  the  improbable  truths  of  the 
Alhambra,  believed  every  word  of  it. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  HOSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

FOR  some  time  after  the  surrender  of  Granada  by  the  Moors, 
that  delightful  city  was  a  frequent  and  favorite  residence  of 
the  Spanish  sovereigns,  until  they  were  frightened  away  by 
successive  shocks  of  earthquakes,  which  toppled  down  various 
houses  and  made  the  old  Moslem  towers  rock  to  their  foundation. 

Many,  many  years  then  rolled  away,  during  which  Granada 
was  rarely  honored  by  a  royal  guest.  The  palaces  of  the 
nobility  remained  silent  and  shut  up ;  and  the  Alhambra,  like 
a  slighted  beauty,  sat  in  mournful  desolation  among  her 
neglected  gardens.  The  tower  of  the  Infantas,  once  the  resi 
dence  of  the  three  beautiful  Moorish  princesses,  partook  of 
the  general  desolation ;  the  spider  spun  her  web  athwart  the 
gilded  vault,  and  bats  and  owls  nestled  in  those  chambers  that 
had  been  graced  by  the  presence  of  Zayda,  Zorayda,  and  Zora- 
hayda.  The  neglect  of  this  tower  may  partly  have  been  owing 
to  some  superstitious  notions  of  the  neighbors.  It  was 
rumored  that  the  spirit  of  the  youthful  Zorahayda,  who  had 
perished  in  that  tower,  was  often  seen  by  moonlight,  seated 
beside  the  fountain  in  the  hall,  or  moaning  about  the  battle 
ments,  and  that  the  notes  of  her  silver  lute  would  be  heard  at 
midnight  by  wayfarers  passing  along  the  glen. 

At  length  the  city  of  Granada  was  once  more  welcomed  by 
the  royal  presence.  All  the  world  knows  that  Philip  V.  was 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.   203 

the  first  Bourbon  that  swayed  the  Spanish  sceptre.  All  the 
world  knows  that  he  married,  in  second  nuptials,  Elizabetta 
or  Isabella,  (for  they  are  the  same,)  the  beautiful  princess  of 
Parma ;  and  all  the  world  knows,  that  by  this  chain  of  contin 
gencies,  a  French  prince  and  an  Italian  princess  were  seated 
together  on  the  Spanish  throne.  For  a  visit  of  this  illustrious 
pair,  the  Alhambra  was  repaired  and  fitted  up  with  all  possible 
expedition.  The  arrival  of  the  court  changed  the  whole  aspect 
of  the  lately  deserted  palace.  The  clangor  of  drum  and  trum 
pet,  the  tramp  of  steed  about  the  avenues  and  outer  court, 
the  glitter  of  arms  and  display  of  banners  about  barbican  and 
battlement,  recalled  the  ancient  and  warlike  glories  of  the 
fortress.  A  softer  spirit,  however,  reigned  within  the  royal 
palace.  There  was  the  rustling  of  robes,  and  the  cautious 
tread  and  murmuring  voice  of  reverential  courtiers  about  the 
antechambers  ;  a  loitering  of  pages  and  maids  of  honor  about 
the  gardens,  and  the  sound  of  music  stealing  from  open  case 
ments. 

Among  those  who  attended  in  the  train  of  the  monarchs, 
was  a  favorite  page  of  the  queen,  named  Ruyz  de  Alarcon. 
To  say  that  he  was  a  favorite  page  of  the  queen,  was  at  once 
to  speak  his  eulogium,  for  every  one  in  the  suite  of  the  stately 
Elizabetta  was  chosen  for  grace,  and  beauty,  and  accomplish 
ments.  He  was  just  turned  of  eighteen,  light  and  lithe  of 
form,  and  graceful  as  a  young  Antinous.  To  the  queen  he 
was  all  deference  and  respect,  yet  he  was  at  heart  a  roguish 
stripling,  petted  and  spoiled  by  the  ladies  about  the  court, 
and  experienced  in  the  ways  of  women  far  beyond  his  years. 

This  loitering  page  was  one  morning  rambling  about  the 
groves  of  the  Generalife,  which  overlook  the  grounds  of  the 
Alhambra.  He  had  taken  with  him  for  his  amusement,  a 
favorite  ger-falcon  of  the  queen.  In  the  course  of  his  rambles, 
seeing  a  bird  rising  from  a  thicket,  he  unhooded  the  hawk 
and  let  him  fly.  The  falcon  towered  high  in  the  air,  made  a 
swoop  at  his  quarry,  but  missing  it,  soared  away  regardless  of 
the  calls  of  the  page.  The  latter  followed  the  truant  bird 
with  his  eye  in  its  capricious  flight,  until  he  saw  it  alight 
upon  the  battlements  of  a  remote  and  lonely  tower,  in  the 
outer  wall  of  the  Alhambra,  built  on  the  edge  of  a  ravine  that 
separated  the  royal  fortress  from  the  grounds  of  the  Gene 
ralife.  It  was,  in  fact,  the  "  tower  of  the  Princesses." 

The  page  descended  into  the  ravine,  and  approached  the 
tower,  but  it  had  no  entrance  from  the  glen,  and  its  lofty 
height  rendered  any  attempt  to  scale  it  fruitless.  Seeking  one 


204  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

of  the  gates  of  the  fortress,  therefore,  he  made  a  wide  circuit 
to  that  side  of  the  tower  facing  within  the  walls.  A  small 
garden  enclosed  by  a  trellis-work  of  reeds  overhung  with 
myrtle  lay  before  the  tower.  Opening  a  wicket,  the  page 
passed  between  beds  of  flowers  and  thickets  of  roses  to  the 
door.  It  was  closed  and  bolted.  A  crevice  in  the  door  gave 
him  a  peep  into  the  interior.  There  was  a  small  Moorish 
hall  with  fretted  walls,  light  marble  columns,  and  an  alabaster 
fountain  surrounded  with  flowers.  In  the  centre  hung  a  gilt 
cage  containing  a  singing  bird ;  beneath  it,  on  a  chair,  lay  a 
tortoise-shell  cat  among  reels  of  silk  and  other  articles  of 
female  labor,  and  a  guitar,  decorated  with  ribbons,  leaned 
against  the  fountain. 

Ruyz  de  Alarcon  was  struck  with  these  traces  of  female 
taste  and  elegance  in  a  lonely,  and,  as  he  had  supposed,  de 
serted  tower.  They  reminded  him  of  the  tales  of  enchanted 
halls,  current  in  the  Alhambra ;  and  the  tortoise-shell  cat 
might  be  some  spellbound  princess. 

He  knocked  gently  at  the  door,  —  a  beautiful  face  peeped 
out  from  a  little  window  above,  but  was  instantly  withdrawn. 
He  waited,  expecting  that  the  door  would  be  opened  ;  but  he 
waited  in  vain :  no  footstep  was  to  be  heard  within,  all  was 
silent.  Had  his  senses  deceived  him,  or  was  this  beautiful 
apparition  the  fairy  of  the  tower  ?  He  knocked  again,  and 
more  loudly.  After  a  little  while,  the  beaming  face  once  more 
peeped  forth  :  it  was  that  of  a  blooming  damsel  of  fifteen. 

The  page  immediately  doffed  his  plumed  bonnet,  and  en 
treated  in  the  most  courteous  accents  to  be  permitted  to  as 
cend  the  tower  in  pursuit  of  his  falcon. 

"  I  dare  not  open  the  door,  Senor,"  replied  the  little  damsel, 
blushing ;  "  my  aunt  has  forbidden  it." 

"  I  do  beseech  you,  fair  maid ;  it  is  the  favorite  falcon  of 
the  queen ;  I  dare  not  return  to  the  palace  without  it." 

"  Are  you,  then,  one  of  the  cavaliers  of  the  court  ?  " 

"  I  am,  fair  maid ;  but  I  shall  lose  the  queen's  favor  and  my 
place  if  I  lose  this  hawk." 

"  Santa  Maria !  It  is  against  you  cavaliers  of  the  court 
that  my  aunt  has  charged  me  especially  to  bar  the  door." 

"  Against  wicked  cavaliers,  doubtless  ;  but  I  am  none  of 
these,  but  a  simple,  harmless  page,  who  will  be  ruined  and 
undone  if  you  deny  me  this  small  request." 

The  heart  of  the  little  damsel  was  touched  by  the  distress 
of  the  page.  It  was  a  thousand  pities  he  should  be  ruined  for 
the  want  of  so  trifling  a  boon.  Surely,  too,  he  could  not  be 


LEGEND   OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALETAMBRA.      205 

one  of  those  dangerous  beings  whom  her  aunt  had  described 
as  a  species  of  cannibal,  ever  on  the  prowl  to  make  prey  of 
thoughtless  damsels ;  he  was  gentle  and  modest,  and  stood  so 
entreatingly  with  cap  in  hand,  and  looked  so  charming.  The 
sly  page  saw  that  the  garrison  began  to  waver,  and  redoubled 
his  entreaties  in  such  moving  terms,  that  it  was  not  in  the 
nature  of  mortal  maiden  to  deny  him  ;  so,  the  blushing  little 
warder  of  the  tower  descended  and  opened  the  door  with  a 
trembling  hand ;  and  if  the  page  had  been  charmed  by  a  mere 
glimpse  of  her  countenance  from  the  window,  he  was  ravished 
by  the  full-length  portrait  now  revealed  to  him. 

Her  Andalusian  bodice  and  trim  basquina  set  off  the  round 
but  delicate  symmetry  of  her  form,  which  was  as  yet  scarce 
verging  into  womanhood.  Her  glossy  hair  was  parted  on  her 
forehead  with  scrupulous  exactness,  and  decorated  with  a 
fresh-plucked  rose,  according  to  the  universal  custom  of  the 
country. 

It  is  true,  her  complexion  was  tinged  by  the  ardor  of  a 
southern  sun,  but  it  served  to  give  richness  to  the  mantling 
bloom  of  her  cheek,  and  to  heighten  the  lustre  of  her  melting 
eyes. 

Euyz  de  Alarcon  beheld  all  this  with  a  single  glance,  for  it 
became  him  not  to  tarry ;  he  merely  murmured  his  acknowl 
edgments,  and  then  bounded  lightly  up  the  spiral  staircase  in 
quest  of  his  falcon.  He  soon  returned  with  the  truant  bird 
upon  his  fist.  The  damsel,  in  the  meantime,  had  seated  her 
self  by  the  fountain  in  the  hall,  and  was  winding  silk  ;  but  in 
her  agitation  she  let  fall  the  reel  upon  the  pavement.  The 
page  sprang,  picked  it  up,  then  dropping  gracefully  on  one 
knee,  presented  it  to  her.  but,  seizing  the  hand  extended  to 
receive  it,  imprinted  on  it  a  kiss  more  fervent  and  devout 
than  he  had  ever  imprinted  on  the  fair  hand  of  his  sovereign. 

"  Ave  Maria  !  Sefior  ! "  exclaimed  the  damsel,  blushing  still 
deeper  with  confusion  and  surprise,  for  never  before  had  she 
received  such  a  salutation. 

The  modest  page  made  a  thousand  apologies,  assuring  her 
it  was  the  way,  at  court,  of  expressing  the  most  profound 
homage  and  respect. 

Her  anger,  if  anger  she  felt,  was  easily  pacified ;  but  her 
agitation  and  embarrassment  continued,  and  she  sat  blushing 
deeper  and  deeper,  with  her  eyes  cast  down  upon  her  work, 
entangling  the  silk  which  she  attempted  to  wind. 

The  cunning  page  saw  the  confusion  in  the  opposite  camp, 
and  would  fain  have  profited  by  it,  but  the  fine  speeches  he 


206  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

would  have  uttered  died  upon  his  lips  ;  his  attempts  at  gal 
lantry  were  awkward  and  ineffectual ;  and,  to  his  surprise,  the 
adroit  page  who  had  figured  with  such  grace  and  effrontery 
among  the  most  knowing  and  experienced  ladies  of  the  court, 
found  himself  awed  and  abashed  in  the  presence  of  a  simple 
damsel  of  fifteen. 

In  fact,  the  artless  maiden,  in  her  own  modesty  and  inno 
cence,  had  guardians  more  effectual  than  the  bolts  and  bars 
prescribed  by  her  vigilant  aunt.  Still,  where  is  the  female 
bosom  proof  against  the  first  whisperings  of  love  ?  The  little 
damsel,  with  all  her  artlessness,  instinctively  comprehended 
all  that  the  faltering  tongue  of  the  page  failed  to  express,  and 
her  heart  was  fluttered  at  beholding,  for  the  first  time,  a  lover 
at  her  feet  —  and  such  a  lover  ! 

The  diffidence  of  the  page,  though  genuine,  was  short-lived, 
and  he  was  recovering  his  usual  ease  and  confidence,  when  a 
shrill  voice  was  heard  at  a  distance. 

"  My  aunt  is  returning  from  mass  ! "  cried  the  damsel  in 
affright.  "  I  pray  you,  Senor,  depart." 

"  Not  until  you  grant  me  that  rose  from  your  hair  as  a  re 
membrance." 

She  hastily  untwisted  the  rose  from  her  raven  locks.  "  Take 
it,"  cried  she,  agitated  and  blushing,  "  but  pray  begone." 

The  page  took  the  rose,  and  at  the  same  time  covered  with 
kisses  the  fair  hand  that  gave  it.  Then  placing  the  flower  in 
his  bonnet,  and  taking  the  falcon  upon  his  fist,  he  bounded  off 
through  the  garden,  bearing  away  with  him  the  heart  of  the 
gentle  Jacinta. 

When  the  vigilant  aunt  arrived  at  the  tower,  she  remarked 
the  agitation  of  her  niece,  and  an  air  of  confusion  in  the  hall ; 
but  a  word  of  explanation  sufficed.  "A  ger-falcon  had  pursued 
his  prey  into  the  hall." 

"  Mercy  on  us  !  To  think  of  a  falcon  flying  into  the  tower. 
Did  ever  one  hear  of  so  saucy  a  hawk  ?  Why,  the  very  bird 
in  the  cage  is  not  safe." 

The  vigilant  Fredegonda  was  one  of  the  most  wary  of 
ancient  spinsters.  She  had  a  becoming  terror  and  distrust  of 
what  she  denominated  "  the  opposite  sex,"  which  had  gradu 
ally  increased  through  a  long  life  of  celibacy.  Not  that  the 
good  lady  had  ever  suffered  from  their  wiles ;  nature  having 
set  up  a  safeguard  in  her  face,  that  forbade  all  trespass  upon 
her  premises  ;  but  ladies  who  have  least  cause  to  fear  for  them 
selves,  are  most  ready  to  keep  a  watch  over  their  more  tempt 
ing  neighbors.  The  niece  was  the  orphan  of  an  officer  who 


LEGEND   OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.      207 

had  fallen  in  the  wars.  She  had  been  educated  in  a  convent, 
and  had  recently  been  transferred  from  her  sacred  asylum  to 
the  immediate  guardianship  of  her  aunt  ;  under  whose  over 
shadowing  care  she  vegetated  in  obscurity,  like  an  opening 
rose  blooming  beneath  a  brier.  Nor,  indeed,  is  this  comparison 
entirely  accidental,  for  to  tell  the  truth  her  fresh  and  dawning 
beauty  had  caught  the  public  eye,  even  in  her  seclusion,  and, 
with  that  poetical  turn  common  to  the  people  of  Andalusia, 
the  peasantry  of  the  neighborhood  had  given  her  the  appella 
tion  of  "  The  Rose  of  the  Alhambra." 

The  wary  aunt  continued  to  keep  a  faithful  watch  over  her 
tempting  little  niece  as  long  as  the  court  continued  at  Granada, 
and  flattered  herself  that  her  vigilance  had  been  successful. 
It  is  true,  the  good  lady  was  now  and  then  discomposed  by  the 
tinkling  of  guitars,  and  chanting  of  love  ditties  from  the  moon 
lit  groves  beneath  the  tower,  but  she  would  exhort  her  niece 
to  shut  her  ears  against  such  idle  minstrelsy,  assuring  her  that 
it  was  one  of  the  arts  of  the  opposite  sex,  by  which  simple 
maids  were  often  lured  to  their  undoing; — alas,  what  chance 
with  a  simple  maid  has  a  dry  lecture  against  a  moonlight 
serenade ! 

At  length  king  Philip  cut  short  his  sojourn  at  Granada,  and 
suddenly  departed  with  all  his  train.  The  vigilant  Fredegonda 
watched  the  royal  pageant  as  it  issued  forth  from  the  gate  of 
Justice,  and  descended  the  great  avenue  leading  to  the  city. 
When  the  last  banner  disappeared  from  her  sight,  she  returned 
exulting  to  her  tower,  for  all  her  cares  were  over.  To  her  sur 
prise,  a  light  Arabian  steed  pawed  the  ground  at  the  wicket 
gate  of  the  garden  —  to  her  horror  she  saw  through  the  thickets 
of  roses,  a  youth,  in  gayly  embroidered  dress,  at  the  feet  of 
her  niece.  At  the  sound  of  her  footsteps  he  gave  a  tender 
adieu,  bounded  lightly  over  the  barrier  of  reeds  and  myrtles, 
sprang  upon  his  horse,  and  was  out  of  sight  in  an  instant. 

The  tender  Jacinta  in  the  agony  of  her  grief  lost  all  thought 
of  her  aunt's  displeasure.  Throwing  herself  into  her  arms,  she 
broke  forth  into  sobs  and  tears. 

"  Ay  di  mi !  "  cried  she,  "  he's  gone  !  he's  gone !  he's  gone  ! 
and  I  shall  never  see  him  more." 

"  Gone !  who  is  gone  ?  what  youth  is  that  I  saw  at  your 
feet?" 

"A  queen's  page,  aunt,  who  came  to  bid  me  farewell." 

"  A  queen's  page,  child,"  echoed  the  vigilant  Fredegonda 
faintly,  "  and  when  did  you  become  acquainted  with  a  queen's 
page?" 


208  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

"  The  morning  that  the  ger-falcon  came  into  the  tower.  It 
was  the  queen's  ger-falcon,  and  he  came  in  pursuit  of  it." 

"  Ah,  silly,  silly  girl !  know  that  there  are  no  ger-falcons 
half  so  dangerous  as  these  young  prankling  pages,  and  it  is 
precisely  such  simple  birds  as  thee  that  they  pounce  upon." 

The  aunt  was  at  first  indignant  at  learning  that,  in  despite 
of  her  boasted  vigilance,  a  tender  intercourse  had  been  carried 
on  by  the  youthful  lovers,  almost  beneath  her  eye  ;  but  when 
she  found  that  her  simple-hearted  niece,  though  thus  exposed, 
without  the  protection  of  bolt  or  bar,  to  all  the  machinations 
of  the  opposite  sex,  had  come  forth  unsinged  from  the  fiery 
ordeal,  she  consoled  herself  with  the  persuasion  that  it  was 
owing  to  the  chaste  and  cautious  maxims  in  which  she  had, 
as  it  were,  steeped  her  to  the  very  lips. 

While  the  aunt  laid  this  soothing  unction  to  her  pride,  the 
niece  treasured  up  the  oft-repeated  vows  of  fidelity  of  the 
page.  But  what  is  the  love  of  restless,  roving  man  ?  a  vagrant 
stream  that  dallies  for  a  time  with  each  flower  upon  its  bank, 
then  passes  on  and  leaves  them  all  in  tears. 

Days,  weeks,  months  elapsed,  and  nothing  more  was  heard 
of  the  page.  The  pomegranate  ripened,  the  vine  yielded  up 
its  fruit,  the  autumnal  rains  descended  in  torrents  from  the 
mountains ;  the  Sierra  Nevada  became  covered  with  a  snowy 
mantle,  and  wintry  blasts  howled  through  the  halls  of  the  Al- 
hambra :  still  he  came  not.  The  winter  passed  away.  Again  the 
genial  spring  burst  forth  with  song,  and  blossoms,  and  balmy 
zephyr ;  the  snows  melted  from  the  mountains,  until  none 
remained,  but  on  the  lofty  summit  of  Nevada,  glistening 
through  the  sultry  summer  air :  still  nothing  was  heard  of  the 
forgetful  page. 

In  the  meantime,  the  poor  little  Jacinta  grew  pale  and 
thoughtful.  Her  former  occupations  and  amusements  were 
abandoned ;  her  silk  lay  entangled,  her  guitar  unstrung,  her 
flowers  were  neglected,  the  notes  of  her  bird  unheeded,  and 
her  eyes,  once  so  bright,  were  dimmed  with  secret  weeping. 
If  any  solitude  could  be  devised  to  foster  the  passion  of  a 
lovelorn  damsel,  it  would  be  such  a  place  as  the  Alhambra, 
where  everything  seems  disposed  to  produce  tender  and  roman 
tic  reveries.  It  is  a  very  Paradise  for  lovers  ;  how  hard  then 
to  be  alone  in  such  a  Paradise  ;  and  not  merely  alone,  but  for 
saken. 

"  Alas,  silly  child  !  "  would  the  staid  and  immaculate  Frede- 
gonda  say,  when  she  found  her  niece  in  one  of  her  desponding 
moods,  "  did  I  not  warn  thee  against  the  wiles  and  deceptions 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.      209 

of  these  men  ?  What  couldst  thou  expect,  too,  from  one  of  a 
haughty  and  aspiring  family,  thou,  an  orphan,  the  descendant 
of  a  fallen  and  impoverished  line  ;  be  assured,  if  the  youth 
were  true,  his  father,  who  is  one  of  the  proudest  nobles  about 
the  court,  would  prohibit  his  union  with  one  so  humble  and 
portionless  as  thou.  Pluck  up  thy  resolution,  therefore,  and 
drive  these  idle  notions  from  thy  mind." 

The  words  of  the  immaculate  Fredegonda  only  served  to 
increase  the  melancholy  of  her  niece,  but  she  sought  to  indulge 
it  in  private.  At  a  late  hour  one  midsummer  night,  after  her 
aunt  had  retired  to  rest,  she  remained  alone  in  the  hall  of  the 
tower,  seated  beside  the  alabaster  fountain.  It  was  here  that 
the  faithless  page  had  first  knelt  and  kissed  her  hand,  it  was 
here  that  he  had  often  vowed  eternal  fidelity.  The  poor  little 
damsel's  heart  was  overladen  with  sad  and  tender  recollec 
tions,  her  tears  began  to  flow,  and  slowly  fell,  drop  by  drop, 
into  the  fountain.  By  degrees  the  crystal  water  became  agi 
tated,  and,  bubble  —  bubble  —  bubble,  boiled  up,  and  was 
tossed  about  until  a  female  figure,  richly  clad  in  Moorish 
robes,  slowly  rose  to  view. 

Jacinta  was  so  frightened,  that  she  fled  from  the  hall,  and 
did  not  venture  to  return.  The  next  morning,  she  related 
what  she  had  seen  to  her  aunt,  but  the  good  lady  treated  it  as 
a  fantasy  of  her  troubled  mind,  or  supposed  she  had  fallen 
asleep  and  dreamt  beside  the  fountain.  "  Thou  hast  been 
thinking  of  the  story  of  the  three  Moorish  princesses  that 
once  inhabited  this  tower,"  continued  she,  "  and  it  has  entered 
into  thy  dreams." 

"  What  story,  aunt  ?     I  know  nothing  of  it." 

"  Thou  hast  certainly  heard  of  the  three  princesses,  Zayda, 
Zorayda,  and  Zorahayda,  who  were  confined  in  this  tower  by 
the  king  their  father,  and  agreed  to  fly  with  three  Christian 
cavaliers.  The  two  first  accomplished  their  escape,  but  the 
third  failed  in  her  resolution,  and  it  is  said,  died  in  this  tower." 

"  I  now  recollect  to  have  heard  of  it,"  said  Jacinta,  "  and 
to  have  wept  over  the  fate  of  the  gentle  Zorahayda." 

"  Thou  mayst  well  weep  over  her  fate,"  continued  the  aunt, 
"  for  the  lover  of  Zorahayda  was  thy  ancestor.  He  long  be 
moaned  his  Moorish  love,  but  time  cured  him  of  his  grief,  and 
he  married  a  Spanish  lady,  from  whom  thou  art  descended." 

Jacinta  ruminated  upon  these  words.  "  That  what  I  have 
seen  is  no  fantasy  of  the  brain,"  said  she  to  herself,  "I  am 
confident.  If  indeed  it  be  the  spirit  of  the  gentle  Zorahayda, 
which  I  have  heard  lingers  about  this  tower,  of  what  should  I 


210  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

be  afraid  ?  I'll  watch  by  the  fountain  to-night,  perhaps  the 
visit  will  be  repeated." 

Towards  midnight,  when  everything  was  quiet,  she  again 
took  her  seat  in  the  hall.  As  the  bell  in  the  distant  watch- 
tower  of  the  Alhambra  struck  the  midnight  hour,  the  foun 
tain  was  again  agitated,  and  bubble  —  bubble  —  bubble,  it 
tossed  about  the  waters  until  the  Moorish  female  again  rose 
to  view.  She  was  young  and  beautiful ;  her  dress  was  rich 
with  jewels,  and  in  her  hand  she  held  a  silver  lute.  Jacinta 
trembled  and  was  faint,  but  was  reassured  by  the  soft  and 
plaintive  voice  of  the  apparition,  and  the  sweet  expression  of 
her  pale  melancholy  countenance. 

"  Daughter  of  Mortality,"  said  she,  "  what  aileth  thee  ? 
Why  do  thy  tears  trouble  my  fountain,  and  thy  sighs  and 
plaints  disturb  the  quiet  watches  of  the  night  ?  " 

"  I  weep  because  of  the  faithlessness  of  man  ;  and  I  bemoan 
my  solitary  and  forsaken  state." 

"  Take  comfort,  thy  sorrows  may  yet  have  an  end.  Thou 
beholdest  a  Moorish  princess,  who,  like  thee,  was  unhappy  in 
her  love.  A  Christian  knight,  thy  ancestor,  won  my  heart, 
and  would  have  borne  me  to  his  native  land,  and  to  the  bosom 
of  his  church.  I  was  a  convert  in  my  heart,  but  I  lacked  cour 
age  equal  to  my  faith,  and  lingered  till  too  late.  For  this, 
the  evil  genii  are  permitted  to  have  power  over  me,  and  I  re 
main  enchanted  in  this  tower,  until  some  pure  Christian  will 
deign  to  break  the  magic  spell.  Wilt  thou  undertake  the 
task  ?  " 

"  I  will !  "  replied  the  damsel,  trembling. 

"  Come  hither,  then,  and  fear  not :  dip  thy  hand  in  the  foun 
tain,  sprinkle  the  water  over  me,  and  baptize  me  after  the 
manner  of  thy  faith ;  so  shall  the  enchantment  be  dispelled, 
and  my  troubled  spirit  have  repose." 

The  damsel  advanced  with  faltering  steps,  dipped  her  hand 
in  the  fountain,  collected  water  in  the  palm,  and  sprinkled  it 
over  the  pale  face  of  the  phantom. 

The  latter  smiled  with  ineffable  benignity.  She  dropped  her 
silver  lute  at  the  feet  of  Jacinta,  crossed  her  white  arms  upon 
her  bosom,  and  melted  from  sight,  so  that  it  seemed  merely  as 
if  a  shower  of  dewdrops  had  fallen  into  the  fountain. 

Ja,cinta  retired  from  the  hall,  filled  with  awe  and  wonder. 
She  scarcely  closed  her  eyes  that  night,  but  when  she  awoke 
at  daybreak  out  of  a  troubled  slumber,  the  whole  appeared 
to  her  like  a  distempered  dream.  On  descending  into  the 
hall,  however,  the  truth  of  the  vision  was  established  ;  for, 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.      211 

beside  the  fountain  she  beheld  the  silver  lute  glittering  in 
the  morning  sunshine. 

She  hastened  to  her  aunt,  to  relate  all  that  had  befallen  her, 
and  called  her  to  behold  the  lute  as  a  testimonial  of  the  real 
ity  of  her  story.  If  the  good  lady  had  any  lingering  doubts, 
they  were  removed  when  Jacinta  touched  the  instrument,  for 
she  drew  forth  such  ravishing  tones  as  to  thaw  even  the  frigid 
bosom  of  the  immaculate  Fredegonda,  that  region  of  eternal 
winter,  into  a  genial  flow.  Nothing  but  supernatural  melody 
could  have  produced  such  an  effect. 

The  extraordinary  power  of  the  lute  became  every  day  more 
and  more  apparent.  The  wayfarer  passing  by  the  tower  was 
detained,  and,  as  it  were,  spellbound,  in  breathless  ecstasy. 
The  very  birds  gathered  in  the  neighboring  trees,  and,  hush 
ing  their  own  strains,  listened  in  charmed  silence.  Rumor 
soon  spread  the  news  abroad.  The  inhabitants  of  Granada 
thronged  to  the  Alhambra,  to  catch  a  few  notes  of  the  tran 
scendent  music  that  floated  about  the  tower  of  Las  Infantas. 

The  lovely  little  minstrel  was  at  length  drawn  forth  from 
her  retreat.  The  rich  and  powerful  of  the  land  contended 
who  should  entertain  and  do  honor  to  her ;  or  rather,  who 
should  secure  the  charms  of  her  lute,  to  draw  fashionable 
throngs  to  their  saloons.  Wherever  she  went,  her  vigilant 
aunt  kept  a  dragon-watch  at  her  elbow,  awing  the  throngs  of 
impassioned  admirers  who  hung  in  raptures  on  her  strains. 
The  report  of  her  wonderful  powers  spread  from  city  to  city  : 
Malaga,  Seville,  Cordova,  all  became  successively  mad  on  the 
theme ;  nothing  was  talked  of  throughout  Andalusia,  but  the 
beautiful  minstrel  of  the  Alhambra.  How  could  it  be  other 
wise  among  a  people  so  musical  and  gallant  as  the  Andalu- 
sians,  when  the  lute  was  magical  in  its  powers,  and  the  min 
strel  inspired  by  love. 

While  all  Andalusia  was  thus  music-mad,  a  different  mood 
prevailed  at  the  court  of  Spain.  Philip  V. ,  as  is  well 
known,  was  a  miserable  hypochondriac,  and  subject  to  all 
kinds  of  fancies.  Sometimes  he  would  keep  to  his  bed  for 
weeks  together,  groaning  under  imaginary  complaints.  At 
other  times  he  would  insist  upon  abdicating  his  throne,  to  the 
great  annoyance  of  his  royal  spouse,  who  had  a  strong  relish 
for  the  splendors  of  a  court  and  the  glories  of  a  crown,  and 
guided  the  sceptre  of  her  imbecile  lord  with  an  expert  and 
steady  hand. 

Nothing  was  found  to  be  so  efficacious  in  dispelling  the 
royal  megrims  as  the  power  of  music  ;  the  queen  took  care, 


212  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

therefore,  to  have  the  best  performers,  both  vocal  and  instru 
mental,  at  hand,  and  retained  the  famous  Italian  siuger  Fari- 
nelli  about  the  court  as  a  kind  of  royal  physician. 

At  the  moment  we  treat  of,  however,  a  freak  had  come  over 
the  mind  of  this  sapient  and  illustrious  Bourbon,  that  sur 
passed  all  former  vagaries.  After  a  long  spell  of  imaginary 
illness,  which  set  all  the  strains  of  Farinelli,  and  the  consulta 
tions  of  a  whole  orchestra  of  court  fiddlers,  at  defiance,  the 
monarch  fairly,  in  idea,  gave  up  the  ghost,  and  considered 
himself  absolutely  dead. 

This  would  have  been  harmless  enough,  and  even  convenient 
both  to  his  queen  and  courtiers,  had  he  been  content  to  remain 
in  the  quietude  befitting  a  dead  man ;  but,  to  their  annoyance, 
he  insisted  upon  having  the  funeral  ceremonies  performed 
over  him,  and,  to  their  inexpressible  perplexity,  began  to  grow 
impatient,  and  to  revile  bitterly  at  them  for  negligence  and 
disrespect  in  leaving  him  unburied.  What  was  to  be  done  ? 
To  disobey  the  king's  positive  commands  was  monstrous  in 
the  eyes  of  the  obsequious  courtiers  of  a  punctilious  court,  — 
but  to  obey  him,  and  bury  him  alive,  would  be  downright 
regicide  ! 

In  the  midst  of  this  fearful  dilemma,  a  rumor  reached  the 
court  of  the  female  minstrel,  who  was  turning  the  brains  of 
all  Andalusia.  The  queen  despatched  missions  in  all  haste, 
to  summon  her  to  St.  Ildefonso,  where  the  court  at  that  time 
resided. 

Within  a  few  days,  as  the  queen  with  her  maids  of  honor 
was  walking  in  those  stately  gardens,  intended,  with  their 
avenues,  and  terraces,  and  fountains,  to  eclipse  the  glories  of 
Versailles,  the  far-famed  minstrel  was  conducted  into  her 
presence.  The  imperial  Elizabetta  gazed  with  surprise  at  the 
youthful  and  unpretending  appearance  of  the  little  being  that 
had  set  the  world  madding.  She  was  in  her  picturesque 
Andalusian  dress,  her  silver  lute  in  hand,  and  stood  with 
modest  and  downcast  eyes,  but  with  a  simplicity  and  fresh 
ness  of  beauty  that  still  bespoke  her  "  The  Rose  of  the  Al- 
hambra." 

As  usual,  she  was  accompanied  by  the  ever-vigilant  Frede- 
gonda,  who  gave  the  whole  history  of  her  parentage  and 
descent  to  the  inquiring  queen.  If  the  stately  Elizabetta  had 
been  interested  by  the  appearance  of  Jacinta,  she  was  still 
more  pleased  when  she  learnt  that  she  was  of  a  meritorious, 
though  impoverished  line,  and  that  her  father  had  bravely 
fallen  in  the  service  of  the  crown.  "  If  thy  powers  equal  their 


LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA.      213 

renown,"  said  she,  "  and  thou  canst  cast  forth  this  evil  spirit 
that  possesses  thy  sovereign,  thy  fortunes  shall  henceforth  be 
my  care,  and  honors  and  wealth  attend  thee." 

Impatient  to  make  trial  of  her  skill,  she  led  the  way  at 
once  to  the  apartment  of  the  moody  monarch.  Jacinta  fol 
lowed  with  downcast  eyes  through  tiles  of  guards  and  crowds  of 
courtiers.  They  arrived  at  length  at  a  great  chamber  hung 
with  black.  The  windows  were  closed,  to  exclude  the  light 
of  day  ;  a  number  of  yellow  wax  tapers,  in  silver  sconces,  dif 
fused  a  lugubrious  light,  and  dimly  revealed  the  figures  of 
mutes  in  mourning  dresses,  and  courtiers,  who  glided  about 
with  noiseless  step  and  woebegone  visage.  In  the  midst  of  a 
funeral  bed  or  bier,  his  hands  folded  on  his  breast,  and  the  tip 
of  his  nose  just  visible,  lay  extended  this  would-be-buried 
monarch. 

The  queen  entered  the  chamber  in  silence,  and,  pointing  to 
a  footstool  in  an  obscure  corner,  beckoned  to  Jacinta  to  sit 
down  and  commence. 

At  first  she  touched  her  lute  with  a  faltering  hand,  but 
gathering  confidence  and  animation  as  she  proceeded,  drew 
forth  such  soft,  aerial  harmony,  that  all  present  could  scarce 
believe  it  mortal.  As  to  the  monarch,  who  had  already  con 
sidered  himself  in  the  world  of  spirits,  he  set  it  down  for  some 
angelic  melody,  or  the  music  of  the  spheres.  By  degrees  the 
theme  was  varied,  and  the  voice  of  the  minstrel  accompanied 
the  instrument.  She  poured  forth  one  of  the  legendary  bal 
lads  treating  of  the  ancient  glories  of  the  Alhambra,  and  the 
achievements  of  the  Moors.  Her  whole  soul  entered  into  the 
theme,  for  with  the  recollections  of  the  Alhambra  was  associ 
ated  the  story  of  her  love;  the  funeral  chamber  resounded 
with  the  animating  strain.  It  entered  into  the  gloomy  heart 
of  the  monarch.  He  raised  his  head  and  gazed  around ;  he 
sat  upon  his  couch ;  his  eye  began  to  kindle  ;  at  length,  leap 
ing  upon  the  floor,  he  called  for  sword  and  buckler. 

The  triumph  of  music,  or  rather  of  the  enchanted  lute,  was 
complete ;  the  demon  of  melancholy  was  cast  forth  ;  and,  as 
it  were,  a  dead  man  brought  to  life.  The  windows  of  the 
apartment  were  thrown  open  ;  the  glorious  effulgence  of  Span 
ish  sunshine  burst  into  the  late  lugubrious  chamber ;  all  eyes 
sought  the  lovely  enchantress,  but  the  lute  had  fallen  from 
her  hand  ;  she  had  sunk  upon  the  earth,  and  the  next  moment 
was  clasped  to  the  bosom  of  Euyz  de  Alarcon. 

The  nuptials  of  the  happy  couple  were  celebrated  soon  after 
wards  with  great  splendor,  and  the  Rose  of  the  Alhambra  be- 


214  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

came  the  ornament  and  delight  of  the  court.  "  But  hold  — 
not  so  fast "  —  I  hear  the  reader  exclaim,  "  this  is  jumping  to 
the  end  of  a  story  at  a  furious  rate  !  First  let  us  know  how 
Ruyz  de  Alarcon  managed  to  account  to  Jacinta  for  his  long 
neglect  ?  "  Nothing  more  easy ;  the  venerable,  time-honored 
excuse,  the  opposition  to  his  wishes  by  a  proud,  pragmatical 
old  father  :  besides,  young  people,  who  really  like  one  another, 
soon  come  to  an  amicable  understanding,  and  bury  all  past 
grievances  when  once  they  meet. 

But  how  was  the  proud  pragmatical  old  father  reconciled  to 
the  match  ? 

Oh,  as  to  that,  his  scruples  were  easily  overcome  by  a  word 
or  two  from  the  queen,  —  especially  as  dignities  and  rewards 
were  showered  upon  the  blooming  favorite  of  royalty.  Be 
sides,  the  lute  of  Jacinta,  you  know,  possessed  a  magic  power, 
and  could  control  the  most  stubborn  head  and  hardest  breast. 

And  what  became  of  the  enchanted  lute  ? 

Oh,  that  is  the  most  curious  matter  of  all,  and  plainly  proves 
the  truth  of  the  whole  story.  That  lute  remained  for  some 
time  in  the  family,  but  was  purloined  and  carried  off,  as  was 
supposed,  by  the  great  singer  Farinelli,  in  pure  jealousy.  At 
his  death  it  passed  into  other  hands  in  Italy,  who  were  igno 
rant  of  its  mystic  powers,  and  melting  down  the  silver,  trans 
ferred  the  strings  to  an  old  Cremona  fiddle.  The  strings  still 
retain  something  of  their  magic  virtues.  A  word  in  the 
reader's  ear,  but  let  it  go  no  further,  —  that  fiddle  is  now 
bewitching  the  whole  world,  —  it  is  the  fiddle  of  Paganini ! 


THE   VETERAN. 

AMONG  the  curious  acquaintances  I  made  in  my  rambles 
about  the  fortress,  was  a  brave  and  battered  old  Colonel  of 
Invalids,  who  was  nestled  like  a  hawk  in  one  of  the  Moorish 
towers.  His  history,  which  he  was  fond  of  telling,  was  a  tis 
sue  of  those  adventures,  mishaps,  and  vicissitudes  that  render 
the  life  of  almost  every  Spaniard  of  note  as  varied  and  whim 
sical  as  the  pages  of  Gil  Bias. 

He  was  in  America  at  twelve  years  of  age,  and  reckoned 
among  the  most  signal  and  fortunate  events  of  his  life,  his 
having  seen  General  Washington.  Since  then  he  had  taken  a 


THE  VETERAN.  215 

part  in  all  the  wars  of  his  country  ;  he  could  speak  experi 
mentally  of  most  of  the  prisons  and  dungeons  of  the  Penin 
sula  ;  had  been  lamed  of  one  leg,  crippled  in- his  hands,  and  so 
cut  up  and  carbonadoed,  that  he  was  a  kind  of  walking  monu 
ment  of  the  troubles  of  Spain,  on  which  there  was  a  scar  for 
every  battle  and  broil,  as  every  year  of  captivity  was  notched 
upon  the  tree  of  Robinson  Crusoe.  The  greatest  misfortune 
of  the  brave  old  cavalier,  however,  appeared  to  have  been  his 
having  commanded  at  Malaga  during  a  time  of  peril  and  con 
fusion,  and  been  made  a  general  by  the  inhabitants  to  protect 
them  from  the  invasion  of  the  French. 

This  had  entailed  upon  him  a  number  of  just  claims  upon 
government  that  I  feared  would  employ  him  until  his  dying 
day  in  writing  and  printing  petitions  and  memorials,  to  the 
great  disquiet  of  his  mind,  exhaustion  of  his  purse,  and  pen 
ance  of  his  friends ;  not  one  of  whom  could  visit  him  without 
having  to  listen  to  a  mortal  document  of  half  an  hour  in 
length,  and  to  carry  away  half  a  dozen  pamphlets  in  his 
pocket.  This,  however,  is  the  case  throughout  Spain :  every 
where  you  meet  with  some  worthy  wight  brooding  in  a  cor 
ner,  and  nursing  up  some  pet  grievance  and  cherished  wrong. 
Beside,  a  Spaniard  who  has  a  lawsuit,  or  a  claim  upon  govern 
ment,  may  be  considered  as  furnished  with  employment  for 
the  remainder  of  his  life. 

I  visited  the  veteran  in  his  quarters  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
Torre  del  Vino,  or  Wine  Tower.  His  room  was  small  but  snug, 
and  commanded  a  beautiful  view  of  the  Vega.  It  was  arranged 
with  a  soldier's  precision.  Three  muskets  and  a  brace  of 
pistols,  all  bright  and  shining,  were  suspended  against  the 
wall,  with  a  sabre  and  a  cane  hanging  side  by  side,  and  above 
them  two  cocked  hats,  one  for  parade,  and  one  for  ordinary 
use.  A  small  shelf,  containing  some  half  dozen  books,  formed 
his  library,  one  of  which,  a  little  old  mouldy  volume  of  phi 
losophical  maxims,  was  his  favorite  reading.  This  he  thumbed 
and  pondered  over  day  by  day ;  applying  every  maxim  to  his 
own  particular  case,  provided  it  had  a  little  tinge  of  wholesome 
bitterness,  and  treated  of  the  injustice  of  the  world. 

Yet  he  was  social  and  kind-hearted,  and,  provided  he  could 
be  diverted  from  his  wrongs  and  his  philosophy,  was  an  enter 
taining  companion.  I  like  these  old  weather-beaten  sons  of 
fortune,  and  enjoy  their  rough  campaigning  anecdotes.  In  the 
course  of  my  visits  to  the  one  in  question,  I  learnt  some  curious 
facts  about  an  old  military  commander  of  the  fortress,  who 
seems  to  have  resembled  him  in  some  respects,  and  to  have  had 


216  THE  ALHAMBEA. 

similar  fortunes  in  the  wars.  These  particulars  have  been 
augmented  by  inquiries  among  some  of  the  old  inhabitants  of 
the  place,  particularly  the  father  of  Mateo  Ximenes,  of  whose 
traditional  stories  the  worthy  I  am  about  to  introduce  to  the 
reader  was  a  favorite  hero. 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY. 

IN  former  times  there  ruled,  as  governor  of  the  Alhambra, 
a  doughty  old  cavalier,  who,  from  having  lost  one  arm  in  the 
wars,  was  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  El  Gobernador 
Manco,  or  the  one-armed  governor.  He  in  fact  prided  himself 
upon  being  an  old  soldier,  wore  his  mustache  curled  up  to  his 
eyes,  a  pair  of  campaigning  boots,  and  a  toledo  as  long  as  a 
spit,  with  his  pocket  handkerchief  in  the  basket-hilt. 

He  was,  moreover,  exceedingly  proud  and  punctilious,  and 
tenacious  of  all  his  privileges  and  dignities.  Under  his  sway, 
the  immunities  of  the  Alhambra,  as  a  royal  residence  and  do 
main,  were  rigidly  exacted.  No  one  was  permitted  to  enter 
the  fortress  with  fire-arms,  or  even  with  a  sword  or  staff,  unless 
he  were  of  a  certain  rank,  and  every  horseman  was  obliged  to 
dismount  at  the  gate  and  lead  his  horse  by  the  bridle.  Now, 
as  the  hill  of  the  Alhambra  rises  from  the  very  midst  of  the 
city  of  Granada,  being,  as  it  were,  an  excrescence  of  the  capi 
tal,  it  must  at  all  times  be  somewhat  irksome  to  the  captain- 
general  who  commands  the  province,  to  have  thus  an  imperium 
in  imperio,  a  petty  independent  post,  in  the  very  centre  of  his 
domains.  It  was  rendered  the  more  galling  in  the  present  in 
stance,  from  the  irritable  jealousy  of  the  old  governor,  that 
took  fire  on  the  least  question  of  authority  and  jurisdiction, 
and  from  the  loose  vagrant  character  of  the  people  who  had 
gradually  nestled  themselves  within  the  fortress  as  in  a  sanctu 
ary,  and  thence  carried  on  a  system  of  roguery  and  depreda 
tion  at  the  expense  of  the  honest  inhabitants  of  the  city. 
Thus  there  was  a  perpetual  feud  and  heart-burning  between 
the  captain-general  and  the  governor ;  the  more  virulent  on 
the  part  of  the  latter,  inasmuch  as  the  smallest  of  two  neigh 
boring  potentates  is  always  the  most  captious  about  his  dignity. 
The  stately  palace  of  the  captafti-general  stood  in  the  Plaza 
Nueva,  immediately  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  of  the  Alhambra, 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND   THE  NOTARY.  217 

and  here  was  always  a  bustle  and  parade  of  guards,  and  domes 
tics,  and  city  functionaries.  A  beetling  bastion  of  the  fortress 
overlooked  the  palace  and  public  square  in  front  of  it ;  and 
on  this  bastion  the  old  governor  would  occasionally  strut  back 
wards  and  forwards,  with  his  toledo  girded  by  his  side,  keeping 
a  wary  eye  down  upon  his  rival,  like  a  hawk  reconnoitring  his 
quarry  from  his  nest  in  a  dry  tree. 

Whenever  he  descended  into  the  city,  it  was  in  grand  parade, 
on  horseback,  surrounded  by  his  guards,  or  in  his  state  coach, 
an  ancient  and  unwieldy  Spanish  edifice  of  carved  timber  and 
gilt  leather,  drawn  by  eight  mules,  with  running  footmen,  out 
riders,  and  lackeys,  on  which  occasions  he  flattered  himself 
he  impressed  every  beholder  with  awe  and  admiration  as  vice 
gerent  of  the  king,  though  the  wits  of  Granada,  particularly 
those  who  loitered  about  the  palace  of  the  captain-general, 
were  apt  to  sneer  at  his  petty  parade,  and,  in  allusion  to 
the  vagrant  character  of  his  subjects,  to  greet  him  with  the 
appellation  of  "  the  King  of  the  beggars." 

One  of  the  most  fruitful  sources  of  dispute  between  these 
two  doughty  rivals,  was  the  right  claimed  by  the  governor  to 
have  all  things  passed  free  of  duty  through  the  city,  that  were 
intended  for  the  use  of  himself  or  his  garrison.  By  degrees, 
this  privilege  had  given  rise  to  extensive  smuggling.  A  nest 
of  contrabandistas  took  up  their  abode  in  the  hovels  of  the 
fortress  and  the  numerous  caves  in  its  vicinity,  and  drove  a 
thriving  business  under  the  connivance  of  the  soldiers  of  the 
garrison. 

The  vigilance  of  the  captain-general  was  aroused.  He  con 
sulted  his  legal  adviser  and  factotum,  a  shrewd,  meddlesome 
escribano,  or  notary,  who  rejoiced  in  an  opportunity  of  per 
plexing  the  old  potentate  of  the  Alhambra,  and  involving  him 
in  a  maze  of  legal  subtilties.  He  advised  the  captain-general 
to  insist  upon  the  right  of  examining  every  convoy  passing 
through  the  gates  of  his  city,  and  penned  a  long  letter  for 
him,  in  vindication  of  the  right.  Governor  Manco  was  a 
straightforward,  cut-and-thrust  old  soldier,  who  hated  an  escri 
bano  worse  than  the  devil,  and  this  one  in  particular,  worse 
than  all  other  escribanos. 

"  What ! "  said  he,  curling  up  his  mustaches  fiercely,  "  does 
the  captain-general  set  his  man  of  the  pen  to  practise  confu 
sions  upon  me  ?  I'll  let  him  see  an  old  soldier  is  not  to  be 
baffled  by  schoolcraft." 

He  seized  his  pen,  and  scrawled  a  short  letter  in  a  crabbed 
hand,  in  which,  without  deigning  to  enter  into  argument,  he 


218  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

insiste_.  on  the  right  of  transit  free  of  search,  and  denounced 
vengeance  on  any  custom-house  officer  who  should  lay  his  un 
hallowed  hand  on  any  convoy  protected  by  the  flag  of  the 
Alhambra. 

While  this  question  was  agitated  between  the  two  pragmati 
cal  potentates,  it  so  happened  that  a  mule  laden  with  sup 
plies  for  the  fortress  arrived  one  day  at  the  gate  of  Xenil,  by 
which  it  was  to  traverse  a  suburb  of  the  city  on  its  way  to 
the  Alhambra.  The  convoy  was  headed  by  a  testy  old  cor 
poral,  who  had  long  served  under  the  governor,  and  was  a 
man  after  his  own  heart ;  as  rusty  and  stanch  as  an  old  toledo 
blade.  As  they  approached  the  gate  of  the  city,  the  corporal 
placed  the  banner  of  the  Alhambra  on  the  pack  saddle  of  the 
mule,  and,  drawing  himself  up  to  a  perfect  perpendicular, 
advanced  with  his  head  dressed  to  the  front,  but  with  the 
wary  side-glance  of  a  cur  passing  through  hostile  grounds, 
and  ready  for  a  snap  and  a  snarl. 

"  Who  goes  there  ?  "  said  the  sentinel  at  thegate. 

"  Soldier  of  the  Alhambra,"  said  the  corporal,  without  turn 
ing  his  head. 

"  What  have  you  in  charge  ?  " 

"  Provisions  for  the  garrison." 

"Proceed." 

The  corporal  marched  straight  forward,  followed  by  the 
convoy,  but  had  not  advanced  many  paces,  before  a  posse  of 
custom-house  officers  rushed  out  of  a  small  toll-house. 

"  Hallo  there  !  "  cried  the  leader  :  "  Muleteer,  halt  and  open 
those  packages." 

The  corporal  wheeled  round,  and  drew  himself  up  in  battle 
array.  "  Respect  the  flag  of  the  Alhambra,"  said  he  ;  "  these 
things  are  for  the  governor." 

"  A  figo  for  the  governor,  and  a  figo  for  his  flag.  Muleteer, 
halt,  I  say." 

"  Stop  the  convoy  at  your  peril ! "  cried  the  corporal,  cocking 
his  musket.  "  Muleteer,  proceed." 

The  muleteer  gave  his  beast  a  hearty  thwack,  the  custom 
house  officer  sprang  forward,  and  seized  the  halter ;  whereupon 
the  corporal  levelled  his  piece  and  shot  him  dead. 

The  street  was  immediately  in  an  uproar.  The  old  corpo 
ral  was  seized,  and  after  undergoing  sundry  kicks  and  cuffs, 
and  cudgellings.  which  are  generally  given  impromptu,  by 
the  mob  in  Spain,  as  a  foretaste  of  the  after-penalties  of 
the  law,  he  was  loaded  with  irons,  and  conducted  to  the 
city  prison ;  while  his  comrades  were  permitted  to  proceed 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND   THE  NOTARY  219 

with  the   convoy,  after   it   had  been  well  rummaged,  to   the 
Alhambra. 

The  old  governor  was  in  a  towering  passion,  when  he  heard 
of  this  insult  to  his  flag  and  capture  of  his  corporal.  For  a 
time  he  stormed  about  the  Moorish  halls,  and  vapored  about 
the  bastions,  and  looked  down  fire  and  sword  upon  the  palace 
of  the  captain-general.  Having  vented  the  first  ebullition  of 
his  wrath,  he  despatched  a  message  demanding  the  surrender 
of  the  corporal,  as  to  him  alone  belonged  the  right  of  sitting 
in  judgment  on  the  offences  of  those  under  his  command 
The  captain-general,  aided  by  the  pen  of  the  delighted  escri- 
bano,  replied  at  great  length,  arguing  that  as  the  offence  had 
been  committed  within  the  walls  of  his  city,  and  against  one  of 
his  civil  officers,  it  was  clearly  within  his  proper  jurisdiction. 
The  governor  rejoined  by  a  repetition  of  his  demand;  the 
captain-general  gave  a  sur-rejoinder  of  still  greater  length,  and 
legal  acumen ;  the  governor  became  hotter  and  more  peremp 
tory  in  his  demands,  and  the  captain-general  cooler  and  more 
copious  in  his  replies ;  until  the  old  lion-hearted  soldier  abso 
lutely  roared  with  fury,  at  being  thus  entangled  in  the  meshes 
of  legal  controversy. 

While  the  subtle  escribano  was  thus  amusing  hinself  at  the 
expense  of  the  governor,  he  was  conducting  the  trial  of  the 
corporal ;  who,  mewed  up  in  a  narrow  dungeon  of  the  prison, 
had  merely  a  small  grated  window  at  which  to  show  his  iron- 
bound  visage,  and  receive  the  consolations  of  his  friends ;  a 
mountain  of  written  testimony  was  diligently  heaped  up,  ac 
cording  to  Spanish  form,  by  the  indefatigable  escribano ;  the 
corporal  was  completely  overwhelmed  by  it.  He  was  con 
victed  of  murder,  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged. 

It  was  in  vain  the  governor  sent  down  remonstrance  and 
menace  from  the  Alhambra.  The  fatal  day  was  at  hand,  and 
the  corporal  was  put  in  capilla,  that  is  to  say,  in  the  chapel 
of  the  prison ;  as  is  always  done  with  culprits  the  day  before 
execution,  that  they  may  meditate  on  their  approaching  end, 
and  repent  them  of  their  sins. 

Seeing  things  drawing  to  extremity,  the  old  governor  deter 
mined  to  attend  to  the  affair  in  person.  For  this  purpose  he 
ordered  out  his  carriage  of  state,  and,  surrounded  by  his  guards, 
rumbled  down  the  avenue  of  the  Alhambra  into  the  city. 
Driving  to  the  house  of  the  escribano,  he  summoned  him  to 
the  portal. 

The  eye  of  the  old  governor  gleamed  like  a  coal  at  behold 
ing  the  smirking  man  of  the  law  advancing  with  an  air  of 
exultation. 


220  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

11  What  is  this  I  hear,"  cried  he,  "  that  you  are  about  to 
put  to  death  one  of  my  soldiers  ?  " 

"  All  according  to  law,  — all  in  strict  form  of  justice,"  said 
the  self-sufficient  escribano,  chuckling  and  rubbing  his  hands. 
"1  can  show  your  excellency  the  written  testimony  in  the 
case." 

"  Fetch  it  hither,"  said  the  governor. 

The  escribano  bustled  into  his  office,  delighted  with  having 
another  opportunity  of  displaying  his  ingenuity  at  the  expense 
of  the  hard-headed  veteran.  He  returned  with  a  satchel  full 
of  papers,  and  began  to  read  a  long  deposition  with  profes 
sional  volubility.  By  this  time,  a  crowd  had  collected,  listen 
ing  with  outstretched  necks  and  gaping  mouths. 

"  Prithee  man,  get  into  the  carriage  out  of  this  pestilent 
throng,  that  I  may  the  better  hear  thee,"  said  the  governor. 

The  escribano  entered  the  carriage,  when,  in  a  twinkling, 
the  door  was  closed,  the  coachman  smacked  his  whip,  mules, 
carriage,  guards,  and  all  dashed  off  at  a  thundering  rate,  leav 
ing  the  crowd  in  gaping  wonderment;  nor  did  the  governor 
pause  until  he  had  lodged  his  prey  in  one  of  the  strongest 
dungeons  of  the  Alhambra. 

He  then  sent  down  a  flag  of  truce  in  military  style,  pro 
posing  a  cartel  or  exchange  of  prisoners,  the  corporal  for 
the  notary.  The  pride  of  the  captain-general  was  piqued,  he 
returned  a  contemptuous  refusal,  and  forthwith  caused  a  gal 
lows,  tall  and  strong,  to  be  erected  in  the  centre  of  the  Plaza 
Nueva,  for  the  execution  of  the  corporal. 

"  0  ho  !  is  that  the  game  ?  "  said  Governor  Manco  :  he  gave 
orders,  and  immediately  a  gibbet  was  reared  on  the  verge  of 
the  great  beetling  bastion  that  overlooked  the  Plaza.  "  Now," 
said  he,  in  a  message  to  the  captain-general,  "  hang  my  soldier 
when  you  please  ;  but  at  the  same  time  that  he  is  swung  off  in 
the  square,  look  up  to  see  your  escribano  dangling  against  the 
sky." 

The  captain-general  was  inflexible  -,  troops  were  paraded  in 
the  square;  the  drums  beat;  the  bell  tolled;  an  immense 
multitude  of  amateurs  gathered  together  to  behold  the  execu 
tion  ;  on  the  other  hand,1  the  governor  paraded  his  garrison 
on  the  bastion,  and  tolled  the  funeral  dirge  of  the  notary  from 
the  Torre  de  la  Campana,  or  Tower  of  the  Bell. 

The  notary's  wife  pressed  through  the  crowd  with  a  whole 
progeny  of  little  embryo  escribanos  at  her  heels,  and  throwing 
herself  at  the  feet  of  the  captain-general,  implored  him  not  to 
sacrifice  the  life  of  her  husband,  and  the  welfare  of  herself 


GOVERNOR  MANCO  AND   THE  SOLDIER.  221 

and  her  numerous  little  ones,  to  a  point  of  pride  ;  "  for  you 
know  the  old  governor  too  well,"  said  she,  "  to  doubt  that  he 
will  put  his  threat  in  execution  if  you  hang  the  soldier." 

The  captain-general  was  overpowered  by  her  tears  and  lam 
entations,  and  the  clamors  of  her  callow  brood.  The  corporal 
was  sent  up  to  the  Alhambra  under  a  guard,  in  his  gallows 
garb,  like  a  hooded  friar ;  but  with  head  erect  and  a  face  of 
iron.  The  escribano  was  demanded  in  exchange,  according  to 
the  cartel.  The  once  bustling  and  self-sufficient  man  of  the 
law  was  drawn  forth  from  his  dungeon,  more  dead  than  alive. 
All  his  flippancy  and  conceit  had  evaporated ;  his  hair,  it  is 
said,  had  nearly  turned  gray  with  affright,  and  he  had  a  down 
cast,  dogged  look,  as  if  he,  still  felt  the  halter  round  his  neck. 

The  old  governor  stuck  his  one  arm  akimbo,  and  for  a 
moment  surveyed  him  with  an  iron  smile.  "  Henceforth,  my 
friend,"  said  he,  "  moderate  your  zeal  in  hurrying  others  to 
the  gallows ;  be  not  too  certain  of  your  safety,  even  though 
you  should  have  the  law  on  your  side ;  and,  above  all,  take 
care  how  you  play  off  your  schoolcraft  another  time  upon  an 
old  soldier." 


GOVERNOR    MANCO    AND    THE    SOLDIER. 

WHILE  Governor  Manco,  or  the  one-armed,  kept  up  a  show 
of  military  state  in  the  Alhambra,  he  became  nettled  at  the 
reproaches  continually  cast  upon  his  fortress  of  being  a 
nestling  place  of  rogues  and  contrabandistas.  On  a  sudden, 
the  old  potentate  determined  on  reform,  and  setting  vigor 
ously  to  work,  ejected  whole  nests  of  vagabonds  out  of  the 
fortress  and  the  gypsy  caves  with  which  the  surrounding 
hills  are  honey-combed.  He  sent  out  soldiers,  also,  to  patrol 
the  avenues  and  footpaths,  with  orders  to  take  up  all  suspi 
cious  persons. 

One  bright  summer  morning,  a  patrol  consisting  of  the  testy 
old  corporal  who  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  affair  of 
the  notary,  a  trumpeter,  and  two  privates  were  seated  under 
the  garden  wall  of  the  Generalife,  beside  the  road  which  leads 
down  from  the  mountain  of  the  Sun,  when  they  heard  the 
tramp  of  a  horse,  and  a  male  voice  singing  in  rough,  though 
not  unmusical  tones,  an  old  Castilian  campaigning  song. 

Presently  they  beheld  a  sturdy,  sun-burnt  fellow  clad  in 
the  ragged  garb  of  a  foot-soldier,  leading  a  powerful  Arabian 
horse  caparisoned  in  the  ancient  Morisco  fashion. 


222  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

Astonished  at  the  sight  of  a  strange  soldier,  descending, 
steed  in  hand,  from  that  solitary  mountain,  the  corporal 
stepped  forth  and  challenged  him. 

"  Who  goes  there  ?  " 

"  A  friend." 

"  Who,  and  what  are  you  ?  " 

"  A  poor  soldier,  just  from  the  wars,  with  a  cracked  crown 
and  empty  purse  for  a  reward." 

By  this  time  they  were  enabled  to  view  him  more  narrowly. 
He  had  a  black  patch  across  his  forehead,  which,  with  a  griz 
zled  beard,  added  to  a  certain  dare-devil  cast  of  countenance, 
while  a  slight  squint  threw  into  the  whole  an  occasional  gleam 
of  roguish  good-humor. 

Having  answered  the  questions  of  the  patrol,  the  soldier 
seemed  to  consider  himself  entitled  to  make  others  in  return. 

"  May  I  ask,"  said  he,  "  what  city  is  that  which  I  see  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill  ?  " 

"  What  city  ! "  cried  the  trumpeter ;  "  come,  that's  too  bad. 
Here's  a  fellow  lurking  about  the  mountain  of  the  Sun,  and 
demands  the  name  of  the  great  city  of  Granada." 

"  Granada !     Madre  di  Dios  !  can  it  be  possible  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  not ! "  rejoined  the  trumpeter,  "  and  perhaps  you 
have  no  idea  that  yonder  are  the  towers  of  the  Alhambra  ?  " 

"  Son  of  a  trumpet,"  replied  the  stranger,  "do  not  trifle  with 
me ;  if  this  be  indeed  the  Alhambra,  I  have  some  strange  mat 
ters  to  reveal  to  the  governor." 

"  You  will  have  an  opportunity,"  said  the  corporal,  "  for  we 
mean  to  take  you  before  him." 

By  this  time  the  trumpeter  had  seized  the  bridle  of  the  steed, 
the  two  privates  had  each  secured  an  arm  of  the  soldier,  the 
corporal  put  himself  in  front,  gave  the  word,  "Forward,  march ! " 
and  away  they  marched  for  the  Alhambra. 

The  sight  of  a  ragged  foot-soldier  and  a  fine  Arabian  horse 
brought  in  captive  by  the  patrol,  attracted  the  attention  of  all 
the  idlers  of  the  fortress,  and  of  those  gossip  groups  that  gen 
erally  assemble  about  wells  and  fountains  at  early  dawn.  The 
wheel  of  the  cistern  paused  in  its  rotations ;  and  the  slipshod 
servant-maid  stood  gaping  with  pitcher  in  hand,  as  the  cor 
poral  passed  by  with  his  prize.  A  motley  train  gradually 
gathered  in  the  rear  of  the  escort.  Knowing  nods,  and  winks, 
and  conjectures  passed  from  one  to  another.  It  is  a  deserter, 
said  one;  a  contrabandista,  said  another;  a  bandalero,  said  a 
third,  until  it  was  affirmed  that  a  captain  of  a  desperate  band 
of  robbers  had  been  captured  by  the  prowess  of  the  corporal 


GOVEltXOR   MANCO  AND   THE   SOLDIER.  223 

and  his  patrol.  "  Well,  well,"  said  the  old  crones  one  to 
another,  "  captain  or  not,  let  him  get  out  of  the  grasp  of  old 
Governor  Manco  if  he  can,  though  he  is  but  one-handed." 

Governor  Manco  was  seated  in  one  of  the  inner  halls  of  the 
Alhambra,  taking  his  morning's  cup  of  chocolate  in  company 
with  his  confessor,  a  fat  Franciscan  friar  from  the  neighboring 
convent.  A  demure,  dark-eyed  damsel  of  Malaga,  the  daughter 
of  his  housekeeper,  was  attending  upon  him. 

The  world  hinted  that  the  damsel,  who,  with  all  her  demure- 
ness,  was  a  sly,  buxom  baggage,  had  found  out  a  soft  spot  in 
the  iron  heart  of  the  old  governor,  and  held  a  complete  control 
over  him,  —  but  let  that  pass  ;  the  domestic  affairs  of  these 
mighty  potentates  of  the  earth  should  not  be  too  narrowly 
scrutinized. 

When  word  was  brought  that  a  suspicious  stranger  had  been 
taken  lurking  about  the  fortress,  and  was  actually  in  the  outer 
court,  in  durance  of  the  corporal,  waiting  the  pleasure  of  his 
excellency,  the  pride  and  stateliuess  of  office  swelled  the  bosom 
of  the  governor.  Giving  back  his  chocolate  cup  into  the  hands 
of  the  demure  damsel,  he  called  for  his  basket-hilted  sword, 
girded  it  to  his  side,  twirled  up  his  mustaches,  took  his  seat  in  a 
large  high-backed  chair,  assumed  a  bitter  and  forbidding  aspect, 
and  ordered  the  prisoner  into  his  presence.  The  soldier  was 
brought  in,  still  closely  pinioned  by  his  captors,  and  guarded 
by  the  corporal.  He  maintained,  however,  a  resolute,  self- 
confident  air,  and  returned  the  sharp,  scrutinizing  look  of  the 
governor  with  an  easy  squint,  which  by  no  means  pleased  the 
punctilious  old  potentate. 

"  Well,  culprit ! "  said  the  governor,  after  he  had  regarded 
him  for  a  moment  in  silence,  "  what  have  you  to  say  for  your 
self  ?  who  are  you  ?  " 

"  A  soldier,  just  from  the  wars,  who  has  brought  away  noth 
ing  but  scars  and  bruises." 

"A  soldier?  humph!  a  foot-soldier  by  your  garb.  I  under 
stand  you  have  a  fine  Arabian  horse.  I  presume  you  brought 
him  too  from  the  wars,  besides  your  scars  and  bruises." 

"May  it  please  your  excellency,  I  have  something  strange  to 
tell  about  that  horse.  Indeed,  I  have  one  of  the  most  won 
derful  things  to  relate  —  something  too  that  concerns  the  secu 
rity  of  this  fortress,  indeed,  of  all  Granada.  But  it  is  a  matter 
to  be  imparted  only  to  your  private  ear,  or  in  presence  of  such 
only  as  are  in  your  confidence." 

The  governor  considered  for  a  moment,  and  then  directed  the 
corporal  and  his  men  to  withdraw,  but  to  post  themselves  out- 


224  THE  ALHAMBEA. 

side  of  the  door,  and  be  ready  at  a  call.  "This  holy  friar,"  said 
he,  "  is  my  confessor,  you  may  say  anything  in  his  presence  — 
and  this  damsel,"  nodding  towards  the  handmaid,  who  had 
loitered  with  an  air  of  great  curiosity,  "  this  damsel  is  of  great 
secrecy  and  discretion,  and  to  be  trusted  with  anything." 

The  soldier  gave  a  glance  between  a  squint  and  a  leer  at  the 
demure  handmaid.  "I  am  perfectly  willing,"  said  he,  "that 
the  damsel  should  remain." 

When  all  the  rest  had  withdrawn,  the  soldier  commenced  his 
story.  He  was  a  fluent,  smooth-tongued  varlet,  and  had  a  com 
mand  of  language  above  his  apparent  rank. 

"May  it  please  your  excellency,"  said  he,  "I  am,  as  I 
before  observed,  a  soldier,  and  have  seen  some  hard  service, 
but  my  terra  of  enlistment  being  expired,  I  was  discharged 
not  long  since  from  the  army  at  Valladolid,  and  set  out  on 
foot  for  my  native  village  in  Andalusia.  Yesterday  evening 
the  sun  went  down  as  I  was  traversing  a  great  dry  plain  of  old 
Castile." 

"  Hold  !  "  cried  the  governor,  "  what  is  this  you  say  ?  Old 
Castile  is  some  two  br  three  hundred  miles  from  this." 

"  Even  so,  "  replied  the  soldier,  coolly,  "  I  told  your  excel 
lency  I  had  strange  things  to  relate  —  but  not  more  strange 
than  true  —  as  your  excellency  will  find,  if  you  will  deign  me 
a  patient  hearing." 

"Proceed,  culprit,"  said  the  governor,  twirling  up  his  mus 
taches. 

"  As  the  sun  went  down,"  continued  the  soldier,  "  I  cast  my 
eyes  about  in  search  of  quarters  for  the  night,  but  as  far  as 
my  sight  could  reach,  there  were  no  signs  of  habitation.  I  saw 
that  I  should  have  to  make  my  bed  on  the  naked  plain,  with 
my  knapsack  for  a  pillow  ;  but  your  excellency  is  an  old  sol 
dier,  and  knows  that  to  one  who  has  been  in  the  wars,  such  a 
night's  lodging  is  no  great  hardship." 

The  governor  nodded  assent,  as  he  drew  his  pocket-handker 
chief  out  of  the  basket-hilt,  to  drive  away  a  fly  that  buzzed 
about  his  nose. 

".Well,  to  make  a  long  story  short,"  continued  the  soldier, 
"  I  trudged  forward  for  several  miles,  until  I  came  to  a  bridge 
over  a  deep  ravine,  through  which  ran  a  little  thread  of  water, 
almost  dried  up  by  the  summer  heat.  At  one  end  of  the 
bridge  was  a  Moorish  tower,  the  upper  end  all  in  ruins,  but  a 
vault  in  the  foundation  quite  entire.  Here,  thinks  I,  is  a  good 
place  to  make  a  halt.  So  I  went  down  to  the  stream,  took  a 
hearty  drink,  for  the  water  was  pure  and  sweet,  and  I  was 


GOVERNOR  MANGO  AND   THE  SOLDIER.  225 

parched  with  thirst; then  opening  my  wallet,  I  took  out  an 
onion  and  a  few  crusts,  which  were  all  my  provisions,  and 
seating  myself  on  a  stone  on  the  margin  of  the  stream,  began 
to  make  my  supper ;  intending  afterwards  to  quarter  myself 
for  the  night  in  the  vault  of  the  tower,  and  capital  quarters 
they  would  have  been  for  a  campaigner  just  from  the  wars,  as 
your  excellency,  who  is  an  old  soldier,  may  suppose." 

"  I  have  put  up  gladly  with  worse  in  my  time,"  said  the 
governor,  returning  his  pocket-handkerchief  into  the  hilt  of 
his  sword. 

"  While  I  was  quietly  crunching  my  crust,"  pursued  the 
soldier,  "  I  heard  something  stir  within  the  vault ;  I  listened : 
it  was  the  tramp  of  a  horse.  By  and  by  a  man  came  forth 
from  a  door  in  the  foundation  of  the  tower,  close  by  the 
water's  edge,  leading  a  powerful  horse  by  the  bridle.  I  could 
not  well  make  out  what  he  was  by  the  starlight.  It  had  a 
suspicious  look  to  be  lurking  among  the  ruins  of  a  tower  in 
that  wild  solitary  place.  He  might  be  a  mere  wayfarer  like 
myself ;  he  might  be  a  contrabandista  ;  he  might  be  a  bauda- 
lero !  What  of  that  —  thank  heaven  and  my  poverty,  I  had 
nothing  to  lose,  —  so  I  sat  still  and  crunched  my  crust. 

"  He  led  his  horse  to  the  water  close  by  where  I  was  sitting, 
so  that  I  had  a  fair  opportunity  of  reconnoitring  him.  To  my 
surprise,  he  was  dressed  in  a  Moorish  garb,  with  a  cuirass  of 
steel,  and  a  polished  skullcap,  that  I  distinguished  by  the  re 
flection  of  the  stars  upon  it.  His  horse,  too,  was  harnessed  in 
the  Morisco  fashion,  with  great  shovel  stirrups.  He  led  him, 
as  I  said,  to  the  side  of  the  stream,  into  which  the  animal 
plunged  his  head  almost  to  the  eyes,  and  drank  until  I  thought 
he  would  have  burst. 

"'Comrade,'  said  I,  'your  steed  drinks  well;  it's  a  good 
sign  when  a  horse  plunges  his  muzzle  bravely  into  the  water.' 

" '  He  may  well  drink,'  said  the  stranger,  speaking  with  a 
Moorish  accent ;  '  it  is  a  good  year  since  he  had  his  last 
draught.' 

" '  By  Santiago,'  said  I,  '  that  beats  even  the  camels  I  have 
seen  in  Africa.  But  come,  you  seem  to  be  something  of  a  sol 
dier,  will  you  sit  down,  and  take  part  of  a  soldier's  fare  ? '  — 
In  fact,  I  felt  the  want  of  a  companion  in  this  lonely  place, 
and  was  willing  to  put  up  with  an  infidel.  Besides,  as  your 
excellency  well  knows,  a  soldier  is  never  very  particular  about 
the  faith  of  his  company,  and  soldiers  of  all  countries  are  com 
rades  on  peaceable  ground." 

The  governor  again  nodded  assent. 


226  THE  AL11AMBRA. 

"  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  I  invited  him  to  share  my  supper, 
such  as  it  was,  for  I  could  not  do  less  in  common  hospitality. 

"  '  I  have  no  time  to  pause  for  meat  or  drink,'  said  he,  '  I 
have  a  long  journey  to  make  before  morning.' 

"  '  In  which  direction  ?  '  said  I. 

"  '  Andalusia,'  said  he. 

"  '  Exactly  my  route,'  said  I.  '  So  as  you  won't  stop  and  eat 
with  me,  perhaps  you'll  let  me  mount  and  ride  with  you.  I 
see  your  horse  is  of  a  powerful  frame  :  I'll  warrant  he'll  carry 
double.' 

"  '  Agreed,'  said  the  trooper ;  and  it  would  not  have  been 
civil  and  soldierlike  to  refuse,  especially  as  I  had  offered  to 
share  my  supper  with  him.  So  up  he  mounted,  and  up  I 
mounted  behind  him. 

" '  Hold  fast,'  said  he,  '  my  steed  goes  like  the  wind.' 

" '  Never  fear  me,'  said  I,  and  so  off  we  set. 

"  From  a  walk  the  horse  soon  passed  to  a  trot,  from  a  trot 
to  a  gallop,  and  from  a  gallop  to  a  harum-scarum  scamper.  It 
seemed  as  if  rocks,  trees,  houses,  everything,  flew  hurry- 
scurry  behind  us. 

"  '  What  town  is  this  ? '  said  I. 

" '  Segovia,'  said  he ;  and  before  the  word  was  out  of  his 
mouth,  the  towers  of  Segovia  were  out  of  sight.  We  swept 
up  the  Guadarama  mountains,  and  down  by  the  Escurial ;  and 
we  skirted  the  walls  of  Madrid,  and  we  scoured  away  across 
the  plains  of  La  Mancha.  In  this  way  we  went  up  hill  and 
down  dale,  by  towers  and  cities  all  buried  in  deep  sleep,  and 
across  mountains,  and  plains,  and  rivers,  just  glimmering  in 
the  starlight. 

"  To  make  a  long  story  short,  and  not  to  fatigue  your  excel 
lency,  the  trooper  suddenly  pulled  up  on  the  side  of  a  moun 
tain.  '  Here  we  are,'  said  he,  c  at  the  end  of  our  journey.' 

"  I  looked  about  but  could  see  no  signs  of  habitation  :  noth 
ing  but  the  mouth  of  a  cavern :  while  I  looked,  I  saw  multi 
tudes  of  people  in  Moorish  dresses,  some  on  horseback,  some 
on  foot,  arriving  as  if  borne  b}T  the  wind  from  all  points  of  the 
compass,  and  hurrying  into  the  mouth  of  the  cavern  like  bees 
into  a  hive.  Before  I  could  ask  a  question,  the  trooper  struck 
his  long  Moorish  spurs  into  the  horse's  flanks,  and  dashed  in 
with  the  throng.  We  passed  along  a  steep  winding  way 
that  descended  into  the  very  bowels  of  the  mountain.  As  we 
pushed  on,  a  light  began  to  glimmer  up  by  little  and  little, 
like  the  first  glimmerings  of  day,  but  what  caused  it,  I  could 
not  discern.  It  grew  stronger  and  stronger,  and  enabled  me 


«    GOVERNOR  MANGO  AND   THE  XOLDIER.  227 

to  see  everything  around.  I  now  noticed  as  we  passed  along, 
great  caverns  opening  to  the  right  and  left,  like  halls  in  an 
arsenal.  In  some  there  were  shields,  and  helmets,  and  cui 
rasses,  and  lances,  and  cimeters  hanging  against  the  walls  ;  in 
others,  there  were  great  heaps  of  warlike  munitions  and  camp 
equipage  lying  upon  the  ground. 

"  It  would  have  done  your  excellency's  heart  good,  being  an 
old  soldier,  to  have  seen  such  grand  provision  for  war.  Then 
in  other  caverns  there  were  long  rows  of  horsemen,  armed  to 
the  teeth,  with  lances  raised  and  banners  unfurled,  all  rea'dy 
for  the  field  ;  but  they  all  sat  motionless  in  their  saddles  like 
so  many  statues.  In  other  halls,  were  warriors  sleeping  on 
the  ground  beside  their  horses,  and  foot-soldiers  in  groups, 
ready  to  fall  into  the  ranks.  All  were  in  old-fashioned  Moor 
ish  dresses  and  armor. 

"Well,  your  excellency,  to  cut  a  long  story  short,  we  at 
length  entered  an  immense  cavern,  or  I  may  say  palace,  of 
grotto  work,  the  walls  of  which  seemed  to  be  veined  with 
gold  and-  silver,  and  to  sparkle  with  diamonds  and  sapphires, 
and  all  kinds  of  precious  stones.  At  the  upper  end  sat  a 
Moorish  king  on  a  golden  throne,  with  his  nobles  on  each  side, 
and  a  guard  of  African  blacks  with  drawn  cimeters.  All  the 
crowd  that  continued  to  flock  in,  and  amounted  to  thousands 
and  thousands,  passed  one  by  one  before  his  throne,  each  pay 
ing  homage  as  he  passed.  Some  of  the  multitude  were  dressed 
in  magnificent  robes,  without  stain  or  blemish,  and  sparkling 
with  jewels;  others  in  burnished  and  enamelled  armor ;  while 
others  were  in  mouldered  and  mildewed  garments,  and  in 
armor  all  battered  and  dented,  and  covered  with  rust. 

"  I  had  hitherto  held  my  tongue,  for  your  excellency  well 
knows,  it  is  not  for  a  soldier  to  ask  many  questions  when  on 
duty,  but  I  could  keep  silent  no  longer. 

"'Prithee,  comrade,'  said  I,  'what  is  the  meaning  of  all 
this  ? ' 

" '  This,'  said  the  trooper,  '  is  a  great  and  fearful  mystery. 
Know,  0  Christian,  that  you  see  before  you  the  court  and 
army  of  Boabdil,  the  last  king  of  Granada.' 

"  '  What  is  this  you  tell  me  ?  '  cried  I.  '  Boabdil  and  his 
court  were  exiled  from  the  land  hundreds  of  years  agone,  and 
all  died  in  Africa.' 

"  '  So  it  is  recorded  in  your  lying  chronicles,'  replied  the 
Moor,  'but  know  that  Boabdil  and  the  warriors  who  made 
the  last  struggle  for  Granada  were  all  shut  up  in  the  mountain 
by  powerful  enchantment.  As  for  the  king  and  army  that 


228  THE  ALHAM11RA. 

marched  forth  from  Granada  at  the  time  of  the  surrender, 
they  were  a  mere  phantom  train  of  spirits  and  demons,  per 
mitted  to  assume  those  shapes  to  deceive  the  Christian  sov 
ereigns.  And  furthermore  let  me  tell  you,  friend,  that  all 
Spain  is  a  country  under  the  power  of  enchantment.  There 
is  not  a  mountain-cave,  not  a  lonely  watch-tower  in  the  plains, 
nor  ruined  castle  on  the  hills,  but  has  some  spellbound  war 
riors  sleeping  from  age  to  age  within  its  vaults,  until  the  sins 
are  expiated  for  which  Allah  permitted  the  dominion  to  pass 
for  a  time  out  of  the  hands  of  the  faithful.  Once  every  year, 
on  the  eve  of  St.  John,  they  are  released  from  enchantment 
from  sunset  to  sunrise,  and  permitted  to  repair  here  to  ipa,y 
homage  to  their  sovereign  ;  and  the  crowds  which  you  beheld 
swarming  into  the  cavern  are  Moslem  warriors  from  their 
haunts  in  all  parts  of  Spain ;  for  my  own  part,  you  saw  the 
ruined  tower  of  the  bridge  in  old  Castile,  where  I  have  now 
wintered  and  summered  for  many  hundred  years,  and  where  I 
must  be  back  again  by  daybreak.  As  to  the  battalions  of 
horse  and  foot  which  you  beheld  drawn  up  in  array  in  the 
neighboring  caverns,  they  are  the  spellbound  warriors  of 
Granada.  It  is  written  in  the  book  of  fate,  that  when  the 
enchantment  is  broken,  Boabdil  will  descend  from  the  moun 
tain  at  the  head  of  this  army,  resume  his  throne  in  the 
Alhambra  and  his  sway  of  Granada,  and  gathering  together 
the  enchanted  warriors  from  all  parts  of  Spain,  will  reconquer 
the  peninsula,  and  restore  it  to  Moslem  rule." 

"  '  And  when  shall  this  happen  ?  '  said  I. 

" '  Allah  alone  knows.  We  had  hoped  the  day  of  deliver 
ance  was  at  hand  ;  but  there  reigns  at  present  a  vigilant  gov 
ernor  in  the  Alhambra,  a  stanch  old  soldier,  well  known  as 
Governor  Manco ;  while  such  a  warrior  holds  command  of  the 
very  outpost,  and  stands  ready  to  check  the  first  irruption 
from  the  mountain,  I  fear  Boabdil  and  his  soldiery  must  be 
content  to  rest  upon  their  arms.'  " 

Here  the  governor  raised  himself  somewhat  perpendicularly, 
adjusted  his  sword,  and  twirled  up  his  mustaches. 

"  To  make  a  long  story  short  and  not  to  fatigue  your  excel 
lency,  the  trooper  having  given  me  this  account,  dismounted 
from  his  steed. 

"  '  Tarry  here,'  said  he,  '  and  guard  my  steed,  while  I  go  and 
bow  the  knee  to  Boabdil.'  So  saying,  he  strode  away  among 
the  throng  that  pressed  forward  to  the  throne. 

"  What's  to  be  done  ?  thought  I,  when  thus  left  to  myself. 
Shall  I  wait  here  until  this  infidel  returns  to  whisk  me  off  on 


GOVERNOR  MANCO  AND   THE  SOLDIER.  229 

his  goblin  steed,  the  Lord  knows  where  ?  or  shall  I  make  the 
most  of  my  time,  and  beat  a  retreat  from  this  hobgoblin  com 
munity  ?  A  soldier's  mind  is  soon  made  up,  as  your  excel 
lency  well  knows.  As  to  the  horse,  he  belonged  to  an  avowed 
enemy  of  the  faith  and  the  realm,  and  was  a  fair  prize  accord 
ing  to  the  rules  of  war.  So  hoisting  myself  from  the  crupper 
into  the  saddle,  I  turned  the  reins,  struck  the  Moorish  stirrups 
into  the  sides  of  the  steed,  and  put  him  to  make  the  best  of 
his  way  out  of  the  passage  by  which  he  had  entered.  As  we 
scoured  by  the  halls  where  the  Moslem  horsemen  sat  in 
motionless  battalions,  I  thought  I  heard  the  clang  of  armor, 
and  a  hollow  murmur  of  voices.  I  gave  the  steed  another 
taste  of  the  stirrups,  and  doubled  my  speed.  There  was  now 
a  sound  behind  me  like  a  rushing  blast ;  I  heard  the  clatter  of 
a  thousand  hoofs ;  a  countless  throng  overtook  me ;  I  was 
borne  along  in  the  press,  and  hurled  forth  from  the  mouth  of 
the  cavern,  while  thousands  of  shadowy  forms  were  swept  off 
in  every  direction  by  the  four  winds  of  heaven. 

"  In  the  whirl  and  confusion  of  the  scene,  I  was  thrown 
senseless  to  the  earth.  When  I  came  to  myself  I  was  lying 
on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  with  the  Arabian  steed  standing  beside 
me,  for  in  falling  my  arm  had  slipped  within  the  bridle,  which, 
I  presume,  prevented  his  whisking  off  to  old  Castile. 

"  Your  excellency  may  easily  judge  of  my  surprise  on  look 
ing  round,  to  behold  hedges  of  aloes  and  Indian  figs,  and  other 
proofs  of  a  southern  climate,  and  to  see  a  great  city  below  me 
with  towers  and  palaces,  and  a  grand  cathedral.  I  descended 
the  hill  cautiously,  leading  my  steed,  for  I  was  afraid  to  mount 
him  again,  lest  he  should  play  me  some  slippery  trick.  As  I 
descended,  I  met  with  your  patrol,  who  let  me  into  the  secret 
that  it  was  Granada  that  lay  before  me :  and  that  I  was 
actually  under  the  walls  of  the  Alhambra,  the  fortress  of  the 
redoubted  Governor  Manco,  the  terror  of  all  enchanted  Mos 
lems.  When  I  heard  this,  I  determined  at  once  to  seek  your 
excellency,  to  inform  you  of  all  that  I  had  seen,  and  to  warn 
you  of  the  perils  that  surround  and  undermine  you,  that  you 
may  take  measures  in  time  to  guard  your  fortress,  and  the 
kingdom  itself,  from  this  intestine  army  that  lurks  in  the 
very  bowels  of  the  land." 

"  And  prithee,  friend,  you  who  are  a  veteran  campaigner, 
and  have  seen  so  much  service,"  said  the  governor,  "  how 
would  you  advise  me  to  proceed  in  order  to  prevent  this  evil." 

"  It  is  not  for  a  humble  private  of  the  ranks,"  said  the 
soldier  modestly,  "to  pretend  to  instruct  a  commander  of  your 


230  THE  ALII  AM  Jill  A. 

excellency's  sagacity  ;  but  it  appears  to  me  that  your  ex 
cellency  might  cause  all  the  caves  and  entrances  into  the 
mountains  to  be  walled  up  with  solid  mason-work,  so  that 
Boabdil  and  his  army  might  be  completely  corked  up  in  their 
subterranean  habitation.  If  the  good  father  too/''  added  the 
.  soldier,  reverently  bowing  to  the  friar,  and  devoutly  crossing 
himself,  "  would  consecrate  the  barricadoes  with  his  blessing, 
and  put  up  a  few  crosses  and  relics,  and  images  of  saints,  I 
think  they  might  withstand  all  the  power  of  infidel  enchant 
ments." 

"  They  doubtless  would  be  of  great  avail."  said  the  friar. 

The  governor  now  placed  his  arm  a-kimbo,  with  his  hand 
resting  on  the  hilt  of  his  toledo,  fixed  his  eye  upon  the  soldier, 
and  gently  wagging  his  head  from  one  side  to  the  other : 

"  So,  friend,"  said  he,  "  then  you  really  suppose  I  am  to  be 
gulled  with  this  cock-and-bull  story  about  enchanted  moun 
tains,  and  enchanted  Moors  ?  Hark  ye,  culprit !  —  not 
another  word. — An  old  soldier  you  may  be,  but  you'll  find 
you  have  an  older  soldier  to  deal  with  ;  and  one  not  easily  out- 
generalled.  Ho  !  guards  there  !  —  put  this  fellow  in  irons." 

The  demure  handmaid  would  have  put  in  a  word  in  favor 
of  the  prisoner,  but  the  governor  silenced  her  with  a  look. 

As  they  were  pinioning  the  soldier,  one  of  the  guards  felt 
something  of  bulk  in  his  pocket,  and  drawing  it  forth,  found 
a  long  leathern  purse  that  appeared  to  be  well  filled.  Hold 
ing  it  by  one  corner,  he  turned  out  the  contents  upon  the 
table  before  the  governor,  and  never  did  freebooter's  bag 
make  more  gorgeous  delivery.  Out  tumbled  rings  and  jewels, 
and  rosaries  of  pearls,  and  sparkling  diamond  crosses,  and  a 
profusion  of  ancient  golden  coin,  some  of  which  fell  jingling 
to  the  floor,  and  rolled  away  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
chamber. 

For  a  time  the  functions  of  justice  were  suspended :  there 
was  a  universal  scramble  after  the  glittering  fugitives.  The 
governor  alone,  who  was  imbued  with  true  Spanish  pride, 
maintained  his  stately  decorum,  though  his  eye  betrayed  a 
little  anxiety  until  the  last  coin  and  jewel  was  restored  to  the 
sack. 

The  friar  was  not  so  calm  ;  his  whole  face  glowed  like  a 
furnace,  and  his  eyes  twinkled  and  flashed  at  sight  of  the 
rosaries  and  crosses. 

"  Sacrilegious  wretch  that  thou  art,"  exclaimed  he,  "  what 
church  or  sanctuary  hast  thou  been  plundering  of  these  sacred 
relics  ?  " 


GOVERNOR  MANCO  AND   THE  SOLDIER.  231 

"  Neither  one  nor  the  other,  holy  father.  If  they  be  sac 
rilegious  spoils,  they  must  have  been  taken  in  times  long 
past  by  the  infidel  trooper  I  have  mentioned.  I  was  just 
going  to  tell  his  excellency,  when  he  interrupted  me,  that,  on 
taking  possession  of  the  trooper's  horse,  I  unhooked  a  leathern 
sack  which  hung  at  the  saddle-bow,  and  which,  I  presume, 
contained  the  plunder  of  his  campaignings  in  days  of  old, 
when  the  Moors  overran  the  country." 

"  Mighty  well,  —  at  present  you  will  make  up  your  mind 
to  take  up  your  quarters  in  a  chamber  of  the  Vermilion 
tower,  which,  though  not  under  a  magic  spell,  will  hold  you 
as  safe  as  any  cave  of  your  enchanted  Moors." 

"  Your  excellency  will  do  as  you  think  proper,"  said  the 
prisoner  coolly.  "  I  shall  be  thankful  to  your  excellency  for 
any  accommodation  in  the  fortress.  A  soldier  who  has  been 
in  the  wars,  as  your  excellency  well  knows,  is  not  particular 
about  his  lodgings ;  provided  I  have  a  snug  dungeon  and 
regular  rations,  I  shall  manage  to  make  myself  comfortable. 
I  would  only  entreat,  that  while  your  excellency  is  so  careful 
about  me,  you  would  have  an  eye  to  your  fortress,  and  think 
on  the  hint  I  dropped  about  stopping  up  the  entrances  to  the 
mountain." 

Here  ended  the  scene.  The  prisoner  was  conducted  to  a 
strong  dungeon  in  the  Vermilion  tower,  the  Arabian  steed 
was  led  to  his  excellency's  stable,  and  the  trooper's  sack  was 
deposited  in  his  excellency's  strong  box.  To  the  latter,  it  is 
true,  the  friar  made  some  demur,  questioning  whether  the 
sacred  relics,  which  were  evidently  sacrilegious  spoils,  should 
not  be  placed  in  custody  of  the  church  ;  but  as  the  governor 
was  peremptory  on  the  subject,  and  was  absolute  lord  in  the 
Alhambra,  the  friar  discreetly  dropped  the  discussion,  but 
determined  to  convey  intelligence  of  the  fact  to  the  church 
dignitaries  in  Granada. 

To  explain  these  prompt  and  rigid  measures  on  the  part  of 
old  Governor  Manco,  it  is  proper  to  observe,  that  about  this 
time  the  Alpuxarra  mountains  in  the  neighborhood  of  Gra 
nada  were  terribly  infested  by  a  gang  of  robbers,  under  the 
command  of  a  daring  chief  named  Manuel  Borasco,  who  were 
accustomed  to  prowl  about  the  country,  and  even  to  enter  the 
city  in  various  disguises  to  gain  intelligence  of  the  departure 
of  convoys  of  merchandise,  or  travellers  with  well-lined 
purses,  whom  they  took  care  to  waylay  in  distant  and  solitary 
passes  of  the  road.  These  repeated  and  daring  outrages  had 
awakened  the  attention  of  government,  and  the  commanders 


232  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

of  the  various  posts  had  received  instructions  to  be  on  the 
alert,  and  to  take  up  all  suspicious  stragglers.  Governor 
Manco  was  particularly  zealous,  in  consequence  of  the  various 
stigmas  that  had  been  cast  upon  his  fortress,  and  he  now 
doubted  not  he  had  entrapped  some  formidable  desperado  of 
this  gang. 

In  the  meantime  the  story  took  wind,  and  became  the  talk 
not  merely  of  the  fortress,  but  of  the  whole  city  of  Granada. 
It  was  said  that  the  noted  robber,  Manuel  Borasco,  the  terror 
of  the  Alpuxarras,  had  fallen  into  the  clutches  of  old  Gover 
nor  Manco,  and  been  cooped  up  by  him  in  a  dungeon  of  the 
Vermilion  tower,  and  every  one  who  had  been  robbed  by  him 
flocked  to  recognize  the  marauder.  The  Vermilion  tower, 
as  is  well  known,  stands  apart  from  the  Alhambra,  on  a  sister 
hill  separated  from  the  main  fortress  by  the  ravine,  down 
which  passes  the  main  avenue.  There  were  no  outer  walls, 
but  a  sentinel  patrolled  before  the  tower.  The  window  of  the 
chamber  in  which  the  soldier  was  confined  was  strongly  grated, 
and  looked  upon  a  small  esplanade.  Here  the  good  folks  of 
Granada  repaired  to  gaze  at  him,  as  they  would  at  a  laughing 
hyena  grinning  through  the  cage  of  a  menagerie.  Nobody, 
however,  recognized  him  for  Manuel  Borasco,  for  that  terrible 
robber  was  noted  for  a  ferocious  physiognomy,  and  had  by  no 
means  the  good-humored  squint  of  the  prisoner.  Visitors 
came  not  merely  from  the  city,  but  from  all  parts  of  the  coun 
try,  but  nobody  knew  him,  and  there  began  to  be  doubts  in 
the  minds  of  the  common  people,  whether  there  might  not  be 
some  truth  in  his  story.  That  Boabdil  and  his  army  were 
shut  up  in  the  mountain,  was  an  old  tradition  which  many  of 
the  ancient  inhabitants  had  heard  from  their  fathers.  Num 
bers  went  up  to  the  mountain  of  the  Sun,  or  rather  of  St. 
Elena,  in  search  of  the  cave  mentioned  by  the  soldier ;  and 
saw  and  peeped  into  the  deep  dark  pit,  descending,  no  one 
knows  how  far,  into  the  mountain,  and  which  remains  there 
to  this  day,  the  fabled  entrance  to  the  subterranean  abode  of 
Boabdil. 

By  degrees,  the  soldier  became  popular  with  the  common 
people.  A.  freebooter  of  the  mountains  is  by  no  means  the 
opprobrious  character  in  Spain  that  a  robber  is  in  any  other 
country ;  on  the  contrary,  he  is  a  kind  of  chivalrous  personage 
in  the  eyes  of  the  lower  classes.  There  is  always  a  disposi 
tion,  also,  to  cavil  at  the  conduct  of  those  in  command,  and 
many  began  to  murmur  at  the  high-handed  measures  of  old 
Governor  Manco,  and  to  look  upon  the  prisoner  in  the  light  of 
a  martyr. 


GOVERNOR  MANGO  AND   THE  SOLDIER.  233 

The  soldier,  moreover,  was  a  merry,  waggish  fellow,  that 
had  a  joke  for  every  one  who  came  near  his  window,  and  a  soft 
speech  for  every  female.  He  had  procured  an  old  guitar  also, 
and  would  sit  by  his  window  and  sing  ballads  and  love-ditties 
to  the  delight  of  the  women  of  the  neighborhood,  who  would 
assemble  on  the  esplanade  in  the  evenings,  and  dance  boleros 
to  his  music.  Having  trimmed  off  his  rough  beard,  his  sun 
burnt  face  found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  fair,  and  the  demure 
handmaid  of  the  governor  declared  that  his  squint  was  per 
fectly  irresistible.  This  kind-hearted  damsel  had,  from  the 
first,  evinced  a  deep  sympathy  in  his  fortunes,  and  having  in 
vain  tried  to  mollify  the  governor,  had  set  to  work  privately 
to  mitigate  the  rigor  of  his  dispensations.  Every  day  she 
brought  the  prisoner  some  crumbs  of  comfort  which  had  fallen 
from  the  governor's  table,  or  been  abstracted  from  his  larder, 
together  with,  now  and  then,  a  consoling  bottle  of  choice  Val 
de  Penas,  or  rich  Malaga. 

While  this  petty  treason  was  going  on  in  the  very  centre  of 
the  old  governor's  citadel,  a  storm  of  open  war  was  brewing 
up  among  his  external  foes.  The  circumstance  of  a  bag  of 
gold  and  jewels  having  been  found  upon  the  person  of  the 
supposed  robber,  had  been  reported  with  many  exaggerations 
in  Granada.  A  question  of  territorial  jurisdiction  was  imme 
diately  started  by  the  governor's  inveterate  rival,  the  captain- 
general.  He  insisted  that  the  prisoner  had  been  captured 
without  the  precincts  of  the  Alhambra,  and  within  the  rules  of 
his  authority.  He  demanded  his  body,  therefore,  and  the  spolia 
opima  taken  with  him.  Due  information  having  been  carried 
likewise  by  the  friar  to  the  grand  Inquisitor,  of  the  crosses 
and  rosaries,  and  other  relics  contained  in  the  bag,  he  claimed 
the  culprit,  as  having  been  guilty  of  sacrilege,  and  insisted 
that  his  plunder  was  due  to  the  church,  and  his  body  to  the 
next  Auto  da  Fe.  The  feuds  ran  high ;  the  governor  was  furi 
ous,  and  swore,  rather  than  surrender  his  captive,  he  would 
hang  him  up  within  the  Alhambra,  as  a  spy  caught  within  the 
purlieus  of  the  fortress. 

The  captain-general  threatened  to  send  a  body  of  soldiers  to 
transfer  the  prisoner  from  the  Vermilion  tower  to  the  city. 
The  grand  Inquisitor  was  equally  bent  upon  despatching  a 
number  of  the  familiars  of  the  holy  office.  Word  was  brought 
late  at  night  to  the  governor,  of  these  machinations.  "  Let 
them  come,"  said  he,  "  they'll  find  me  beforehand  with  them. 
He  must  rise  bright  and  early  who  would  take  in  an  old  sol 
dier."  He  accordingly  issued  orders  to  have  the  prisoner 


234  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

removed  at  daybreak  to  the  donjon  keep  within  the  walls  of 
the  Alhambra :  "  And  d'ye  hear,  child,"  said  he  to  his  demure 
handmaid,  "  tap  at  my  door,  and  wake  me  before  cockcrow- 
ing,  that  I  may  see  to  the  matter  myself." 

The  day  dawned,  the  cock  crowed,  but  nobody  tapped  at 
the  door  of  the  governor.  The  sun  rose  high  above  the 
mountain-tops,  and  glittered  in  at  his  casement  ere  the  gov 
ernor  was  awakened  from  his  morning  dreams  by  his  veteran 
corporal,  who  stood  before  him  with  terror  stamped  upon  his 
iron  visage. 

"  He's  off  !  he's  gone  !  *'  cried  the  corporal,  gasping  for 
breath. 

"  Who's  off  ?  —  who's  gone  ?  " 

"  The  soldier  —  the  robber  —  the  devil,  for  aught  I  know. 
His  dungeon  is  empty,  but  the  door  locked.  No  one  knows 
how  he  has  escaped  out  of  it." 

"  Who  saw  him  last  ?  " 

"  Your  handmaid,  —  she  brought  him  his  supper." 

"Let  her  be  called  instantly." 

Here  was  new  matter  of  confusion.  The  chamber  of  the 
demure  damsel  was  likewise  empty ;  her  bed  had  not  been 
slept  in  :  she  had  doubtless  gone  off  with  the  culprit,  as  she 
had  appeared,  for  some  days  past,  to  have  frequent  conversa 
tions  with  him. 

This  was  wounding  the  old  governor  in  a  tender  part,  but 
he  had  scarce  time  to  wince  at  it,  when  new  misfortunes  broke 
upon  his  view.  On  going  into  his  cabinet  he  found  his  strong 
box  open,  the  leather  purse  of  the  trooper  abstracted,  and 
with  it,  a  couple  of  corpulent  bags  of  doubloons. 

But  how,  and  which  way  had  the  fugitives  escaped  ?  An 
old  peasant  who  lived  in  a  cottage  by  the  road-side,  leading 
up  into  the  Sierra,  declared  that  he  had  heard  the  tramp  of  a 
powerful  steed  just  before  daybreak,  passing  up  into  the 
mountains.  He  had  looked  out  at  his  casement,  and  could 
just  distinguish  a  horseman,  with  a  female  seated  before  him. 

"  Search  the  stables  !  "  cried  Governor  Manco.  The  stables 
were  searched ;  all  the  horses  were  in  their  stalls,  excepting 
the  Arabian  steed.  In  his  place  was  a  stout  cudgel  tied  to 
the  manger,  and  on  it  a  label  bearing  these  words,  "  A  gift  to 
Governor  Manco,  from  an  Old  Soldier." 


A   FETE  IN   THE  A  LH AMUR  A.  235 


A  F^TE   IN  THE   ALHAMBRA. 

THE  saint's  day  of  my  neighbor  and  rival  potentate,  the 
count,  took  place  during  his  sojourn  in  the  Alhambra,  on  which 
occasion  he  gave  a  domestic  fete ;  assembling  round  him  the 
members  of  his  family  and  household,  while  the  stewards  and 
old  servants  from  his  distant  possessions  came  to  pay  him 
reverence  and  partake  of  the  good  cheer  which  was  sure  to 
be  provided.  It  presented  a  type,  though  doubtless  a  faint 
one,  of  the  establishment  of  a  Spanish  noble  in  the  olden 
time. 

The  Spaniards  were  always  grandiose  in  their  notions  of 
style.  Huge  palaces ;  lumbering  equipages,  laden  with  foot 
men  and  lackeys ;  pompous  retinues,  and  useless  dependants 
of  all  kinds  ;  the  dignity  of  a  noble  seemed  commensurate 
with  the  legions  who  loitered  about  his  halls,  fed  at  his  ex 
pense,  and  seemed  ready  to  devour  him  alive.  This,  doubt 
less,  originated  in  the  necessity  of  keeping  up  hosts  of  armed 
retainers  during  the  wars  with  the  Moors ;  wars  of  inroads  and 
surprises  ;  when  a  noble  was  liable  to  be  suddenly  assailed  in 
his  castle  by  a  foray  of  the  enemy,  or  summoned  to  the  field 
by  his  sovereign. 

The  custom  remained  after  the  wars  were  at  an  end ;  and 
what  originated  in  necessity  was  kept  up  through  ostentation. 
The  wealth  which  flowed  into  the  country  from  conquests  and 
discoveries  fostered  the  passion  for  princely  establishments. 
According  to  magnificent  old  Spanish  usage,  in  which  pride 
and  generosity  bore  equal  parts,  a  superannuated  servant  was 
never  turned  off,  but  became  a  charge  for  the  rest  of  his  days ; 
nay,  his  children,  and  his  children's  children,  and  often  their 
relatives  to  the  right  and  left,  became  gradually  entailed  upon 
the  family.  Hence  the  huge  palaces  of  the  Spanish  nobility, 
which  have  such  an  air  of  empty  ostentation  from  the  great 
ness  of  their  size  compared  with  the  mediocrity  and  scantiness 
of  their  furniture,  were  absolutely  required  in  the  golden  days 
of  Spain,  by  the  patriarchal  habits  of  their  possessors.  They 
were  little  better  than  vast  barracks  for  the  hereditary  gener 
ations  of  hangers  on,  that  battened  at  the  expense  of  a  Span 
ish  noble. 

These  patriarchal  habits  of  the  Spanish  nobility  have  de 
clined  with  their  revenues  ;  though  the  spirit  which  prompted 
them  remains,  and  wars  sadly  with  their  altered  fortunes. 


236  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

The  poorest  among  them  have  always  some  hereditary  hang 
ers  on,  who  live  at  their  expense,  and  make  them  poorer. 
Some  who,  like  my  neighbor  the  count,  retain  a  modicum  of 
their  once  princely  possessions,  keep  up  a  shadow  of  the 
ancient  system,  and  their  estates  are  overrun  and  the  produce 
consumed  by  generations  of  idle  retainers. 

The  count  held  estates  in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom, 
some  including  whole  villages ;  yet  the  revenues  collected 
from  them  were  comparatively  small ;  some  of  them,  he  as 
sured  me,  barely  fed  the  hordes  of  dependants  nestled  upon 
them,  who  seemed  to  consider  themselves  entitled  to  live  rent 
free  and  be  maintained  into  the  bargain,  because  their  fore 
fathers  had  been  so  since  time  immemorial. 

The  saint's  day  of  the  old  count  gave  me  a  glimpse  into  a 
Spanish  interior.  For  two  or  three  days  previous  preparations 
were  made  for  the  fete.  Viands  of  all  kinds  were  brought  up 
from  town,  greeting  the  olfactory  nerves  of  the  old  invalid 
guards,  as  they  were  borne  past  them  through  the  Gate  of 
Justice.  Servants  hurried  officiously  about  the  courts;  the 
ancient  kitchen  of  the  palace  was  again  alive  with  the  tread 
of  coo"ks  and  scullions,  and  blazed  with  unwonted  fires. 

When  the  day  arrived  I  beheld  the  old  count  in  patriarchal 
state,  his  family  and  household  around  him,  with  function 
aries  who  mismanaged  his  estates  at  a  distance  and  consumed 
the  proceeds ;  while  numerous  old  worn-out  servants  and  pen 
sioners  were  loitering  about  the  courts  and  keeping  within 
smell  of  the  kitchen. 

It  was  a  joyous  day  in  the  Alhambra.  The  guests  dispersed 
themselves  about  the  palace  before  the  hour  of  dinner,  enjoy 
ing  the  luxuries  of  its  courts  and  fountains,  and  embosomed 
gardens,  and  music  and  laughter  resounded  through  its  late 
silent  halls. 

The  feast,  for  a  set  dinner  in  Spain  is  literally  a  feast,  was 
served  in  the  beautiful  Morisco  Hall  of  "  Las  dos  Hermanas." 
The  table  was  loaded  with  all  the  luxuries  of  the  season ; 
there  was  an  almost  interminable  succession  of  dishes ;  show 
ing  how  truly  the  feast  at  the  rich  Camacho's  wedding  in  Don 
Quixote  was  a  picture  of  a  Spanish  banquet.  A  joyous  con 
viviality  prevailed  round  the  board ;  for  though  Spaniards  are 
generally  abstemious,  they  are  complete  revellers  on  occasions 
like  the  present,  and  none  more  so  than  the  Andalusians. 
For  my  part,  there  was  something  peculiarly  exciting  in  thus 
sitting  at  a  feast  in  the  royal  halls  of  the  Alhambra,  given  by 
one  who  might  claim  remote  affinity  with  its  Moorish  kings, 


A   FETE  IN   THE  ALHAMBRA.  237 

and  who  was  a  lineal  representative  of  Gonsalvo  of  Cordova, 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  the  Christian  conquerors. 

The  banquet  ended,  the  company  adjourned  to  the  Hall  of 
Ambassadors.  Here  every  one  endeavored  to  contribute  to  the 
general  amusement,  singing,  improvising,  telling  wonderful 
tales,  or  dancing  popular  dances  to  that  all-pervading  talis 
man  of  Spanish  pleasure,  the  guitar. 

The  count's  gifted  little  daughter  was  as  usual  the  life  and 
delight  of  the  assemblage,  and  I  was  more  than  ever  struck 
with  her  aptness  and  wonderful  versatility.  She  took  a  part 
in  two  or  three  scenes  of  elegant  comedy  with  some  of  her 
companions,  and  performed  them  with  exquisite  point  and 
finished  grace ;  she  gave  imitations  of  the  popular  Italian 
singers,  some  serious,  some  comic,  with  a  rare  quality  of 
voice,  and,  I  was  assured,  with  singular  fidelity  ;  she  imitated 
the  dialects,  dances;  ballads,  and  movements  and  manners  of 
the  gypsies,  and  the  peasants  of  the  Vega,  with  equal  felicity, 
but  everything  was  done  with  an  all-pervading  grace  and  a 
lady-like  tact  perfectly  fascinating. 

The  great  charm  of  everything  she  did  was  its  freedom 
from  pretension  or  ambitious  display,  its  happy  spontaneity. 
Everything  sprang  from  the  impulse  of  the  moment ;  or  was 
in  prompt  compliance  with  a  request.  She  seemed  uncon 
scious  of  the  rarity  and  extent  of  her  own  talent,  and  was  like 
a  child  at  home  revelling  in  the  buoyancy  of  its  own  gay  and 
innocent  spirits.  Indeed  I  was  told  she  had  never  exerted 
her  talents  in  general  society,  but  only,  as  at  present,  in  the 
domestic  circle. 

Her  faculty  of  observation  and  her  perception  of  character 
must  have  been  remarkably  quick,  for  she  could  have  had  only 
casual  and  transient  glances  at  the  scenes,  manners  and  cus 
toms  depicted  with  such  truth  and  spirit.  "  Indeed  it  is  a 
continual  wonder  to  us,"  said  the  countess,  "  where  the  child 
(la  Nina)  has  picked  up  these  things  ;  her  life  being  passed 
almost  entirely  at  home,  in  the  bosom  of  the  family." 

Evening  approached ;  twilight  began  to  throw  its  shadows 
about  the  halls,  and  the  bats  to  steal  forth  from  their  lurking- 
place  and  flit  about.  A  notion  seized  the  little  damsel  and 
some  of  her  youthful  companions,  to  set  out,  under  the  guid 
ance  of  Dolores,  and  explore  the  less  frequented  parts  of  the 
palace  in  quest  of  mysteries  and  enchantments.  Thus  con 
ducted,  they  peeped  fearfully  into  the  gloomy  old  mosque,  but 
quick  drew  back  on  being  told  that  a  Moorish  king  had  been 
murdered  there  ;  they  ventured  into  the  mysterious  regions 


238  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

of  the  bath,  frightening  themselves  with  the  sounds  and  mur 
murs  of  hidden  aqueducts,  and  flying  with  mock  panic  at  the 
alarm  of  phantom  Moors.  They  then  undertook  the  adven 
ture  of  the  Iron  Gate,  a  place  of  baleful  note  in  the  Alham- 
bra.  It  is  a  postern  gate,  opening  into  a  dark  ravine  ;  a 
narrow  covered  way  leads  down  to  it,  which  used  to  be  the 
terror  of  Dolores  and  her  playmates  in  childhood,  as  it  was 
said  a  hand  without  a  body  would  sometimes  be  stretched 
out  from  the  wall  and  seize  hold  of  the  passers  by. 

The  little  party  of  enchantment-hunters  ventured  to  the 
entrance  of  the  covered  way,  but  nothing  would  tempt  them 
to  enter,  in  this  hour  of  gathering  gloom ;  they  dreaded  the 
grasp  of  the  phantom  arm. 

At  length  they  came  running  back  into  the  Hall  of  Ambas 
sadors  in  a  mock  paroxysm  of  terror ;  they  had  positively 
seen  two  spectral  figures  all  in  white.  They  had  not  stopped 
to  examine  them ;  but  could  not  be  mistaken,  for  they  glared 
distinctly  through  the  surrounding  gloom.  Dolores  soon 
arrived  and  explained  the  mystery.  The  spectres  proved  to 
be  two  statues  of  nymphs  in  white  marble,  placed  at  the 
entrance  of  a  vaulted'  passage.  Upon  this  a  grave,  but,  as  I 
thought,  somewhat  sly  old  gentleman  present,  who,  I  believe, 
was  the  count's  advocate  or  legal  adviser,  assured  them  that 
these  statues  were  connected  with  one  of  the  greatest  mysteries 
of  the  Alhambra ;  that  there  was  a  curious  history  concerning 
them,  and  moreover,  that  they  stood  a  living  monument  in 
marble  of  female  secrecy  and  discretion.  All  present  en 
treated  him  to  tell  the  history  of  the  statues.  He  took  a 
little  time  to  recollect  the  details,  and  then  gave  them  in  sub 
stance  the  following  legend. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  TWO  DISCREET  STATUES. 

THERE  lived  once,  in  a  waste  apartment  of  the  Alhambra,  a 
merry  little  fellow  named  Lope  Sanchez,  who  worked  in  the 
gardens,  and  was  as  brisk  and  blithe  as  a  grasshopper,  singing 
all  day  long.  He  was  the  life  and  soul  of  the  fortress ;  when 
his  work  was  over,  he  would  sit  on  one  of  the  stone  benches 
of  the  esplanade,  strum  his  guitar,  and  sing  long  ditties  about 
the  Cid,  and  Bernardo  del  Carpio,  and  Fernando  del  Pulgar, 
and  other  Spanish  heroes,  for  the  amusement  of  the  old  sol- 


LEGEND   OF  THE  TWO  DISCREET  STATUES.        230 

diers  of  the  fortress,  or  would  strike  up  a  merrier  tune,  and 
set  the  girls  dancing  boleros  and  fandangos. 

Like  most  little  men,  Lope  Sanchez  had  a  strapping  buxom 
dame  for  a  wife,  who  could  almost  have  put  him  in  her 
pocket ;  but  he  lacked  the  usual  poor  man's  lot,  —  instead  of 
ten  children  he  had  but  one.  This  was  a  little  black-eyed  girl, 
about  twelve  years  of  age,  named  Sanchica,  who  was  as  merry 
as  himself,  and  the  delight  of  his  heart.  She  played  about 
him  as  he  worked  in  the  gardens,  danced  to  his  guitar  as  he 
sat  in  the  shade,  and  ran  as  wild  as  a  young  fawn  about  the 
groves,  and  alleys,  and  ruined  halls  of  the  Alhambra. 

It  was  now  the  eve  of  the  blessed  St.  John,  and  the  holiday- 
loving  gossips  of  the  Alhambra,  men,  women,  and  children, 
went  up  at  night  to  the  mountain  of  the  Sun,  which  rises 
above  the  Generalife,  to  keep  their  midsummer  vigil  on  its 
level  summit.  It  was  a  bright  moonlight  night,  and  all  the 
mountains  were  gray  and  silvery,  and  the  city,  with  its  domes 
and  spires,  lay  in  shadows  below,  and  the  Vega  was  like  a 
fairy  land,  with  haunted  streams  gleaming  among  its  dusky 
groves.  On  the  highest  part  of  the  mountain  they  lit  up  a 
bonfire,  according  to  an  old  custom  of  the  country  handed 
down  from  the  Moors.  The  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding 
country  were  keeping  a  similar  vigil,  and  bonfires  here  and 
there  in  the  Vega,  and  along  the  folds  of  the  mountains, 
blazed  up  palely  in  the  moonlight. 

The  evening  was  gayly  passed  in  dancing  to  the  guitar  of 
Lope  Sanchez,  who  was  never  so  joyous  as  when  on  a  holiday 
revel  of  the  kind.  While  the  dance  was  going  on,  the  little 
Sanchica  with  some  of  her  playmates  sported  among  the  ruins 
of  an  old  Moorish  fort  that  crowns  the  mountain,  when,  in 
gathering  pebbles  in  the  fosse,  she  found  a  small  hand,  curi 
ously  carved  of  jet,  the  fingers  closed,  and  the  thumb  firmly 
clasped  upon  them.  Overjoyed  with  her  good  fortune,  she 
ran  to  her  mother  with  her  prize.  It  immediately  became  a 
subject  of  sage  speculation,  and  was  eyed  by  some  with  super 
stitious  distrust.  "  Throw  it  away,"  said  one,  "  it  is  Moorish, 
— -depend  upon  it  there's  mischief  and  witchcraft  in  it."  "  By 
no  means,"  said  another,  "you  may  sell  it  for  something  to 
the  jewellers  of  the  Zacatin."  In  the  midst  of  this  discussion 
an  old  tawny  soldier  drew  near,  who  had  served  in  Africa, 
and  was  as  swarthy  as  a  Moor.  He  examined  the  hand  with 
a  knowing  look.  "  I  have  seen  things  of  this  kind,"  said  he, 
"  amon  g  the  Moors  of  Barbary .  It  is  of  great  virtue  to  guard 
against  the  evil  eye,  and  all  kinds  of  spells  and  enchantments. 


240  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

I  give  you  joy,  friend  Lope,  this   bodes  good  luck  to  your 
child." 

Upon  hearing  this,  the  wife  of  Lope  Sanchez  tied  the  little 
hand  of  jet  to  a  ribbon,  and  hung  it  round  the  neck  of  her 
daughter. 

The  sight  of  this  talisman  called  up  all  the  favorite  super 
stitions  about  the  Moors.  The  dance  was  neglected,  and  they 
sat  in  groups  on  the  ground,  telling  old  legendary  tales  handed 
down  from  their  ancestors.  Some  of  their  stories  turned  upon 
the  wonders  of  the  very  mountain  upon  which  they  were 
seated,  which  is  a  famous  hobgoblin  region. 

One  ancient  crone  gave  a  long  account  of  the  subterranean 
palace  in  the  bowels  of  that  mountain,  where  Boabdil  and  all 
his  Moslem  court  are  said  to  remain  enchanted.  "Among 
yonder  ruins,"  said  she,  pointing  to  some  crumbling  walls  and 
mounds  of  earth  on  a  distant  part  of  the  mountain,  "  there  is 
a  deep  black  pit  that  goes  down,  down  into  the  very  heart  of 
the  mountain.  For  all  the  money  in  Granada,  I  would  not 
look  down  into  it.  Once  upon  a  time,  a  poor  man  of  the 
Alhambra,  who  tended  goats  upon  this  mountain,  scrambled 
down  into  that  pit  after  a  kid  that  had  fallen  in.  He  came 
out  again,  all  wild  and  staring,  and  told  such  things  of  what 
he  had  seen,  that  every  one  thought  his  brain  was  turned.  He 
raved  for  a  day  or  two  about  the  hobgoblin  Moors  that  had 
pursued  him  in  the  cavern,  and  could  hardly  be  persuaded  to 
drive  his  goats  up  again  to  the  mountain.  He  did  so  at  last, 
but,  poor  man,  he  never  came  down  again.  The  neighbors 
found  his  goats  browsing  about  the  Moorish  ruins,  and  his  hat 
and  mantle  lying  near  the  inouth  of  the  pit,  but  he  was  never 
more  heard  of." 

The  little  Sanchica  listened  with  breathless  attention  to 
this  story.  She  was  of  a  curious  nature,  and  felt  immediately 
a  great  hankering  to  peep  into  this  dangerous  pit.  Stealing 
away  from  her  companions,  she  sought  the  distant  ruins,  and 
after  groping  for  some  time  among  them,  came  to  a  small 
hollow  or  basin,  near  the  brow  of  the  mountain,  where  it  swept 
steeply  down  into  the  valley  of  the  Darro.  In  the  centre  of 
this  basin  yawned  the  mouth  of  the  pit.  Sanchica  ventured 
to  the  verge  and  peeped  in.  All  was  black  as  pitch,  and  gave 
an  idea  of  immeasurable  depth.  Her  blood  ran  cold  —  she 
drew  back  —  then  peeped  again  —  then  would  have  run  away 
—  then  took  another  peep  —  the  very  horror  of  the  thing  was 
delightful  to  her.  At  length  she  rolled  a  large  stone,  and 
pushed  it  over  the  brink.  For  some  time  it  fell  in  silence  ; 


LEGEND  OF  THE  TWO  DISCREET  STATUES.       241 

then  struck  some  rocky  projection  with  a  violent  crash,  then 
rebounded  from  side  to  side,  rumbling  and  tumbling,  with  a 
noise  like  thunder,  then  made  a  final  splash  into  water,  far, 
far  below,  and  all  was  again  silent. 

The  silence,  however,  did  not  long  continue.  It  seemed  as 
if  something  had  been  awakened  within  this  dreary  abyss. 
A  murmuring  sound  gradually  rose  out  of  the  pit  like  the  hum 
and  buzz  of  a  beehive.  It  grew  louder  and  louder  ;  there  was 
the  confusion  of  voices  as  of  a  distant  multitude,  together  with 
the  faint  din  of  arms,  clash  of  cymbals,  and  clangor  of  trum 
pets,  as  if  some  army  were  marshalling  for  battle  in  the  very 
bowels  of  the  mountain. 

The  child  drew  off  with  silent  awe,  and  hastened  back  to 
the  place  where  she  had  left  her  parents  and  their  companions. 
All  were  gone.  The  bonfire  was  expiring,  and  its  last  wreath 
of  smoke  curling  up  in  the  moonshine.  The  distant  fires  that 
had  blazed  along  the  mountains  and  in  the  Vega  were  all  ex 
tinguished  ;  and  everything  seemed  to  have  sunk  to  repose. 
Sanchica  called  her  parents  and  some  of  her  companions  by 
name,  but  received  no  reply.  She  ran  down  the  side  of  the 
mountain,  and  by  the  gardens  of  the  Generalife,  until  she  ar 
rived  in  the  alley  of  trees  leading  to  the  Alhambra,  when  she 
seated  herself  on  a  bench  of  a  woody  recess  to  recover  breath. 
The  bell  from  the  watch-tower  of  the  Alhambra  told  midnight. 
There  was  a  deep  tranquillity,  as  if  all  nature  slept;  except 
ing  the  low  tinkling  sound  of  an  unseen  stream  that  ran  under 
the  covert  of  the  bushes.  The  breathing  sweetness  of  the 
atmosphere  was  lulling  her  to  sleep,  when  her  eye  was  caught 
by  something  glittering  at  a  distance,  and  to  her  surprise,  she 
beheld  a  long  cavalcade  of  Moorish  warriors  pouring  down  the 
mountain  side,  and  along  the  leafy  avenues.  Some  were  armed 
with  lances  and  shields  ;  others  with  cimeters  and  battle-axes, 
and  with  polished  cuirasses  that  flashed  in  the  moonbeams. 
Their  horses  pranced  proudly,  and  champed  upon  their  bits, 
but  their  tramp  caused  no  more  sound  than  if  they  had  been 
shod  with  felt,  and  the  riders  were  all  as  pale  as  death.  Among 
them  rode  a  beautiful  lady  with  a  crowned  head  and  long 
golden  locks  intwined  with  pearls.  The  housings  of  her  pal 
frey  were  of  crimson  velvet  embroidered  with  gold,  and  swept 
the  earth ;  but  she  rode  all  disconsolate,  with  eyes  ever  fixed 
upon  the  ground. 

Then  succeeded  a  train  of  courtiers  magnificently  arrayed 
in  robes  and  turbans  of  divers  colors,  and  amidst  them,  on  a 
cream-colored  charger,  rode  king  Boabdil  el  Chico,  in  a  royal 


242  THE  ALHAMERA. 

mantle  covered  with  jewels,  and  a  crown  sparkling  with  dia 
monds.  The  little  Sanchica  knew  him  by  his  yellow  beard, 
and  his  resemblance  to  his  portrait,  which  she  had  often  seen 
in  the  picture  gallery  of  the  Generalife.  She  gazed  in  wonder 
and  admiration  at  this  royal  pageant  as  it  passed  glistening 
among  the  trees,  but  though  she  knew  these  monarchs,  and 
courtiers,  and  warriors,  so  pale  and  silent,  were  out  of  the 
common  course  of  nature,  and  tilings  of  magic  and  enchant 
ment,  yet  she  looked  on  with  a  bold  heart,  such  courage  did 
she  derive  from  the  mystic  talisman  of  the  hand  which  was 
suspended  about  her  neck. 

The  cavalcade  having  passed  by,  she  rose  and  followed.  It 
continued  on  to  the  great  Gate  of  Justice,  which  stood  wide 
open ;  the  old  invalid  sentinels  on  duty,  lay  on  the  stone 
benches  of  the  Barbican,  buried  in  profound  and  apparently 
charmed  sleep,  and  the  phantom  pageant  swept  noiselessly  by 
them  with  flaunting  banner  and  triumphant  state.  Sanchica 
would  have  followed,  but,  to  her  surprise,  she  beheld  an  open 
ing  in  the  earth  within  the  Barbican,  leading  down  beneath 
the  foundations  of  the  tower.  She  entered  for  a  little  distance, 
and  was  encouraged  to  proceed  by  finding  steps  rudely  hewn 
in  the  rock,  and  a  vaulted  passage  here  and  there  lit  up  by 
a  silver  lamp,  which,  while  it  gave  light,  diffused  likewise  a 
grateful  fragrance.  Venturing  on,  she  came  at  last  to  a  great 
hall  wrought  out  of  the  heart  of  the  mountain,  magnificently 
furnished  in  the  Moorish  style,  and  lighted  up  by  silver  and 
crystal  lamps.  Here  on  an  ottoman  sat  an  old  man  in  Moorish 
dress,  with  a  long  white  beard,  nodding  and  dozing,  with  a 
staff  in  his  hand,  which  seemed  ever  to  be  slipping  from  his 
grasp  ;  while  at  a  little,  distance,  sat  a  beautiful  lady  in  ancient 
Spanish  dress,  with  a  coronet  all  sparkling  with  diamonds, 
and  her  hair  intwined  with  pearls,  who  was  softly  playing  on 
a  silver  lyre.  The  little  Sanchica  now  recollected  a  story  she 
had  heard  among  the  old  people  of  the  Alhambra,  concerning 
a  Gothic  princess  confined  in  the  centre  of  the  mountain  by 
an  old  Arabian  magician,  whom  she  kept  bound  up  in  magic 
sleep  by  the  power  of  music. 

The  lady  paused  with  surprise,  at  seeing  a  mortal  in  that 
enchanted  hall.  "  Is  it  the  eve  of  the  blessed  St.  John  ?  " 
said  she. 

"  It  is,"  replied  Sanchica. 

"Then  for  one  night  the  magic  charm  is  suspended.  Come 
hither,  child,  and  fear  not.  I  am  a  Christian  like  thyself, 
though  bound  here  by  enchantment.  Touch  my  fetters  with 


LEGEND  OF  THE  TWO  DISCREET  STATUES.       243 

the  talisman  that  hangs  about  thy  neck,  and  for  this  night  1 
shall  be  free." 

So  saying,  she  opened  her  robes  and  displayed  a  broad 
golden  band  round  her  waist,  and  a  golden  chain  that  fastened 
her  to  the  ground.  The  child  hesitated  not  to  apply  the  little 
hand  of  jet  to  the  golden  band,  and  immediately  the  chain  fell 
to  the  earth.  At  the  sound  the  old  man  woke,  and  began  to 
rub  his  eyes,  but  the  lady  ran  her  fingers  over  the  chords  of 
the  lyre,  and  again  he  fell  into  a  slumber  and  began  to  nod, 
and  his  staff  to  falter  in  his  hand.  "  Now,"  said  the  lady, 
"  touch  his  staff  with  the  talismanic  hand  of  jet."  The  child 
did  so,  and  it  fell  from  his  grasp,  and  he  sank  in  a  deep  sleep 
on  the  ottoman.  The  lady  gently  laid  the  silver  lyre  on  the 
ottoman,  leaning  it  against  the  head  of  the  sleeping  magician, 
then  touching  the  chords  until  they  vibrated  in  his  ear,  "  0 
potent  spirit  of  harmony,"  said  she,  "  continue  thus  to  hold 
his  senses  in  thraldom  till  the  return  of  day."  "  JS"ow  follow 
me,  niy  child,"  continued  she,  "and  thou  shalt  behold  the 
Alhambra  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  its  glory,  for  thou  hast  a 
magic  talisman  that  reveals  all  enchantments."  Sanchica 
followed  the  lady  in  silence.  They  passed  up  through  the 
entrance  of  the  cavern  into  the  Barbican  of  the  Gate  of  Justice, 
and  thence  to  the  Plaza  de  los  Algibes,  or  esplanade  within 
the  fortress.  This  was  all  filled  with  Moorish  soldiery,  horse 
and  foot,  marshalled  in  squadrons,  with  banners  displayed. 
There  were  royal  guards  also  at  the  portal,  and  rows  of  African 
blacks  with  drawn  cimeters.  No  one  spoke  a  word,  and  San- 
chica  passed  on  fearlessly  after  her  conductor.  Her  astonish 
ment  increased  on  entering  the  royal  palace,  in  which  she  had 
been  reared.  The  broad  moonshine  lit  up  the  halls,  and  courts, 
and  gardens,  almost  as  brightly  as  if  it  were  day  ;  but  revealed 
a  far  different  scene  from  that  to  which  she  was  accustomed. 
The  walls  of  the  apartments  were  no  longer  stained  and  rent 
by  time.  Instead  of  cobwebs,  they  were  now  hung  with  rich 
silks  of  Damascus,  and  the  gildings  and  arabesque  paintings 
were  restored  to  their  original  brilliancy  and  freshness,  The 
halls,  no  longer  naked  and  unfurnished,  were  set  out  with 
divans  and  ottomans  of  the  rarest  stuffs,  embroidered  with 
pearls,  and  studded  with  precious  gems,  and  all  the  fountains 
in  the  courts  and  gardens  were  playing. 

The  kitchens  were  again  in  full  operation;  cooks  were 
busied  preparing  shadowy  dishes,  and  roasting  and  boiling  the 
phantoms  of  pullets  and  partridges ;  servants  were  hurrying 
to  and  fro  with  silver  dishes  heaped  up  with  dainties,  and 


244  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

arranging  a  delicious  banquet.  The  Court  of  Lions  was 
thronged  with  guards,  and  courtiers,  and  alfaquis,  as  in  the 
old  times  of  the  Moors  ;  and  at  the  upper  end  in  the  saloon 
of  judgment,  sat  Boabdil  on  his  throne,  surrounded  by  his 
court,  and  swaying  a  shadowy  sceptre  for  the  night. 

Notwithstanding  all  this  throng  and  seeming  bustle,  not  a 
voice  nor  a  footstep  was  to  be  heard ;  nothing  interrupted  the 
midnight  silence  but  the  splashing  of  the  fountains.  The  little 
Sanchica  followed  her  conductress  in  mute  amazement  about 
the  palace,  until  they  came  to  a  portal  opening  to  the  vaulted 
passages  beneath  the  great  tower  of  Comares.  On  each  side 
of  the  portal  sat  the  figure  of  a  nymph,  wrought  out  of  alabas 
ter.  Their  heads  were  turned  aside,  and  their  regards  fixed 
upon  the  same  spot  within  the  vault.  The  enchanted  lady 
paused,  and  beckoned  the  child  to  her.  "Here,"  said  she, 
"  is  a  great  secret,  which  I  will  reveal  to  thee  in  reward  for 
thy  faith  and  courage.  These  discreet  statues  watch  over  a 
treasure  hidden  in  old  times  by  a  Moorish  king.  Tell  thy 
father  to  search  the  spot  on  which  their  eyes  are  fixed,  and  he 
will  find  what  will  make  him  richer  than  any  man  in  Granada. 
Thy  innocent  hands  alone,  however,  gifted  as  thou  art  also 
with  the  talisman,  can  remove  the  treasure.  Bid  thy  father 
use  it  discreetly,  and  devote  a  part  of  it  to  the  performance  of 
daily  masses  for  my  deliverance  from  this  unholy  enchant 
ment." 

When  the  lady  had  spoken  these  words,  she  led  the  child 
onward  to  the  little  garden  of  Lindaraxa,  which  is  hard  by  the 
vault  of  the  statues.  The  moon  trembled  upon  the  waters  of 
the  solitary  fountain  in  the  centre  of  the  garden,  and  shed  a 
tender  light  upon  the  orange  and  citron  trees.  The  beautiful 
lady  plucked  a  branch  of  myrtle  and  wreathed  it  round  the 
head  of  the  child.  "  Let  this  be  a  memento,"  said  she,  "  of 
what  I  have  revealed  to  thee,  and  a  testimonial  of  its  truth. 
My  hour  is  come.  I  must  return  to  the  enchanted  hall ; 
follow  me  not,  lest  evil  befall  thee  ;  farewell.  Kememberwhat 
1  have  said,  and  have  masses  performed  for  my  deliverance." 
So  saying,  the  lady  entered  a  dark  passage  leading  beneath 
the  towers  of  Comares,  and  was  no  longer  seen. 

The  faint  crowing  of  a  cock  was  now  heard  from  the  cottages 
below  the  Alhambra,  in  the  valley  of  the  Darro,  and  a  pale 
streak  of  light  began  to  appear  above  the  eastern  mountains. 
A  slight  wind  arose  ;  there  was  a  sound  like  the  rustling  of 
dry  leaves  through  the  courts  and  corridors,  and  door  after 
door  shut  to  with  a  jarring  sound.  Sanchica  returned  to  the 


LEGEND  OF  THE  TWO  DISCREET  STATUES.       245 

scenes  she  had  so  lately  beheld  thronged  with  the  shadowy 
multitude,  but  Boabdil  and  his  phantom  court  were  gone. 

The  moon  shone  into  empty  halls  and  galleries,  stripped  of 
their  transient  splendor,  stained  and  dilapidated  by  time,  and 
hung  with  cobwebs  ;  the  bat  flitted  about  in  the  uncertain  light, 
and  the  frog  croaked  from  the  fish-pond. 

Sanchica  now  made  the  best  of  her  way  to  a  remote  staircase 
that  led  up  to  the  humble  apartment  occupied  by  her  family. 
The  door  as  usual  was  open,  for  Lope  Sanchez  was  too  poor  to 
need  bolt  or  bar :  she  crept  quietly  to  her  pallet,  and,  putting 
the  myrtle  wreath  beneath  her  pillow,  soon  fell  asleep. 

In  the  morning  she  related  all  that  had  befallen  her  to  her 
father.  Lope  Sanchez,  however,  treated  the  whole  as  a  mere 
dream,  and  laughed  at  the  child  for  her  credulity.  He  went 
forth  to  his  customary  labors  in  the  garden,  but  had  not  been 
there  long  when  his  little  daughter  came  running  to  him  almost 
breathless.  "  Father  !  father ! "  cried  she,  "  behold  the  myrtle 
wreath  which  the  Moorish  lady  bound  round  my  head." 

Lope  Sanchez  gazed  with  astonishment,  for  the  stalk  of  the 
myrtle  was  of  pure  gold,  and  every  leaf  was  a  sparkling  eme 
rald  !  Being  not  much  accustomed  to  precious  stones,  he  was 
ignorant  of  the  real  value  of  the  wreath,  but  he  saw  enough  to 
convince  him  that  it  was  something  more  substantial  than  the 
stuff  that  dreams  are  generally  made  of,  and  that  at  any  rate 
the  child  had  dreamt  to  some  purpose.  His  first  care  was  to 
enjoin  the  most  absolute  secrecy  upon  his  daughter;  in  this 
respect,  however,  he  was  secure,  for  she  had  discretion  far 
beyond  her  years  or  sex.  He  then  repaired  to  the  vault  where 
stood  the  statues  of  the  two  alabaster  nymphs.  He  remarked 
that  their  heads  were  turned  from  the  portal,  and  that  the 
regards  of  each  were  fixed  upon  the  same  point  in  the  interior 
of  the  building.  Lope  Sanchez  could  not  but  admire  this  most 
discreet  contrivance  for  guarding  a  secret.  He  drew  a  line 
from  the  eyes  of  the  statues  to  the  point  of  regard,  made  a 
private  mark  on  the  wall,  and  then  retired. 

All  day,  however,  the  mind  of  Lope  Sanchez  was  distracted 
with  a  thousand  cares.  He  could  not  help  hovering  within 
distant  view  of  the  two  statues,  and  became  nervous  from  the 
dread  that  the  golden  secret  might  be  discovered.  Every  foot 
step  that  approached  the  place,  made  him  tremble.  He  would 
have  given  anything  could  he  but  have  turned  the  heads  of  the 
statues,  forgetting  that  they  had  looked  precisely  in  the  same 
direction  for  some  hundreds  of  years,  without  any  person 
being  the  wiser.  "  A  plague  upon  them,"  he  would  say  to 


246  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

himself,  "  they'll  betray  all.  Did  ever  mortal  hear  of  such  a 
mode  of  guarding  a  secret ! "  Then,  on  hearing  any  one  advance 
he  would  steal  off,  as  though  his  very  lurking  near  the  place 
would  awaken  suspicion.  Then  he  would  return  cautiously,  and 
peep  from  a  distance  to  see  if  everything  was  secure,  but  the 
sight  of  the  statues  would  again  call  forth  his  indignation.  "  Ay, 
there  they  stand,"  would  he  say,  "  always  looking,  and  looking, 
and  looking,  just  where  they  should  not.  Confound  them  ! 
they  are  just  like  all  their  sex ;  if  they  have  not  tongues  to 
tattle  with,  they'll  be  sure  to  do  it  with  their  eyes  !  *' 

At  length,  to  his  relief,  the  long  anxious  day  drew  to  a  close. 
The  sound  of  footsteps  was  no  longer  heard  in  the  echoing 
halls  of  the  Alhambra ;  the  last  stranger  passed  the  threshold, 
the  great  portal  was  barred  and  bolted,  and  the  bat,  and  the 
frog,  and  the  hooting  owl  gradually  resumed  their  nightly 
vocations  in  the  deserted  palace. 

Lope  Sanchez  waited,  however,  until  the  night  was  far  ad 
vanced,  before  he  ventured  with  his  little  daughter  to  the  hall 
of  the  two  nymphs.  He  found  them  looking  as  knowingly 
and  mysteriously  as  ever,  at  the  secret  place  of  deposit.  <;  By 
your  leaves,  gentle  ladies,"  thought  Lope  Sanchez  as  he  passed 
between  them,  "  I  will  relieve  you  from  this  charge  that  must 
have  set  so  heavy  in  your  minds  for  the  last  two  or  three  cen 
turies."  He  accordingly  went  to  work  at  the  part  of  the  wall 
which  he  had  marked,  and  in  a  little  while  laid  open  a  con 
cealed  recess,  in  which  stood  two  great  jars  of  porcelain.  He 
attempted  to  draw  them  forth,  but  they  were  immovable  until 
touched  by  the  innocent  hand  of  his  little  daughter.  With 
her  aid  he  dislodged  them  from  their  niche,  and  found  to  his 
great  joy,  that  they  were  tilled  with  pieces  of  Moorish  gold, 
mingled  with  jewels  and  precious  stones.  Before  daylight  he 
managed  to  convey  them  to  his  chamber,  and  left  the  two 
guardian  statues  with  their  eyes  still  fixed  on  the  vacant  wall. 

Lope  Sanchez  had  thus  on  a  sudden  become  a  rich  man,  but 
riches,  as  usual,  brought  a  world  of  cares,  to  which  he  had 
hitherto  been  a  stranger.  How  was  he  to  convey  away  his 
wealth  with  safety  ?  How  was  he  even  to  enter  upon  the 
enjoyment  of  it  without  awakening  suspicion  ?  Now  too,  for 
the  first  time  in  his  life,  the  dread  of  robbers  entered  into  his 
mind.  He  looked  with  terror  at  the  insecurity  of  his  habita 
tion,  and  went  to  work  to  barricade  the  doors  and  windows  ; 
yet  after  all  his  precautions,  he  could  not  sleep  soundly.  His 
usual  gayety  was  at  an  end;  he  had  no  longer  a  joke  or  a  song 
for  his  neighbors,  and,  in  short,  became  the  most  miserable 


LEGEND   OF  THE   TWO   DISCREET  STATUES.        247 

animal  in  the  Alhambra.  His  old  comrades  remarked  this 
alteration ;  pitied  him  heartily,  and  began  to  desert  him, 
thinking  he  must  be  falling  into  want,  and  in  danger  of  look 
ing  to  them  for  assistance ;  little  did  they  suspect  that  his 
only  calamity  was  riches. 

The  wife  of  Lope  Sanchez  shared  his  anxiety ;  but  then  she 
had  ghostly  comfort.  We  ought  to  before  this  have  men 
tioned,  that  Lope  being  rather  a  light,  inconsiderate  little 
man,  his  wife  was  accustomed,  in  all  grave  matters,  to  seek 
the  counsel  and  ministry  of  her  confessor,  Fray  Simon,  a 
sturdy,  broad-shouldered,  blue-bearded,  bullet-headed  friar  of 
the  neighboring  convent  of  San  Francisco,  who  was,  in  fact, 
the  spiritual  comforter  of  half  the  good  wives  of  the  neigh 
borhood.  He  was,  moreover,  in  great  esteem  among  divers 
sisterhoods  of  nuns,  who  requited  him  for  his  ghostly  services 
by  frequent  presents  of  those  little  dainties  and  knickknacks 
manufactured  in  convents,  such  as  delicate  confections,  sweet 
biscuits,  and  bottles  of  spiced  cordials,  found  to  be  marvellous 
restoratives  after  fasts  and  vigils. 

Fray  Simon  thrived  in  the  exercise  of  his  functions.  His 
oily  skin  glistened  in  the  sunshine  as  he  toiled  up  the  hill  of 
the  Alhambra  on  a  sultry  day.  Yet  notwithstanding  his  sleek 
condition,  the  knotted  rope  round  his  waist  showed  the  auster 
ity  of  his  self-discipline  ;  the  multitude  doffed  their  caps  to 
him  as  a  mirror  of  piety,  and  even  the  dogs  scented  the  odor 
of  sanctity  that  exhaled  from  his  garments,  and  howled  from 
their  kennels  as  he  passed. 

Such  was  Fray  Simon,  the  spiritual  counsellor  of  the  comely 
wife  of  Lope  Sanchez,  and  as  the  father  confessor  is  the 
domestic  confidant  of  women  in  humble  life  in  Spain,  he  was 
soon  acquainted,  in  great  secrecy,  with  the  story  of  the  hidden 
treasure. 

The  friar  opened  eyes  and  mouth,  and  crossed  himself  a 
dozen  times  at  the  news.  After  a  moment's  pause,  "Daughter 
of  my  soul !  "  said  he,  "know  that  thy  husband  has  committed 
a  double  sin,  a  sin  against  both  state  and  church  !  The  treas 
ure  he  has  thus  seized  upon  for  himself,  being  found  in  the 
royal  domains,  belongs  of  course  to  the  crown  ;  but  being  in 
fidel  wealth,  rescued,  as  it  were,  from  the  very  fangs  of  Satan, 
should  be  devoted  to  the  church.  Still,  however,  the  matter 
may  be  accommodated.  Bring  hither  thy  myrtle  wreath." 

When  the  good  father  beheld  it,  his  eyes  twinkled  more 
than  ever,  with  admiration  of  the  size  and  beauty  of  the  em 
eralds.  "  This,"  said  he,  "  being  the  first-fruits  of  this  dis- 


248  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

covery,  should  be  dedicated  to  pious  purposes.  I  will  hang  it 
up  as  a  votive  offering  before  the  image  of  San  Francisco  in 
our  chapel,  and  will  earnestly  pray  to  him,  this  very  night, 
that  your  husband  be  permitted  to  remain  in  quiet  possession 
of  your  wealth." 

The  good  dame  was  delighted  to  make  her  peace  with  heaven 
at  so  cheap  a  rate,  and  the  friar,  putting  the  wreath  under  his 
mantle,  departed  with  saintly  steps  towards  his  convent. 

When  Lope  Sanchez  came  home,  his  wife  told  him  what  had 
passed.  He  was  excessively  provoked,  for  he  lacked  his  wife's 
devotion,  and  had  for  some  time  groaned  in  secret  at  the 
domestic  visitations  of  the  friar.  '<  Woman,"  said  he,  "  what 
hast  thou  done !  Thou  hast  put  everything  at  hazard  by  thy 
tattling." 

"  What ! "  cried  the  good  woman,  "  would  you  forbid  my 
disburdening  my  conscience  to  my  confessor  ?  " 

"  No,  wife  !  confess  as  many  of  your  own  sins  as  you  please  ; 
but  as  to  this  money-digging,  it  is  a  sin  of  my  own,  and  my 
conscience  is  very  easy  under  the  weight  of  it." 

There  was  no  use,  however,  in  complaining  ;  the  secret  was 
told,  and,  like  water  spilled  on  the  sand,  was  not  again  to  be 
gathered.  Their  only  chance  was,  that  the  friar  would  be 
discreet. 

The  next  day,  while  Lope  Sanchez  was  abroad,  there  was  an 
humble  knocking  at  the  door,  and  Fray  Simon  entered  with 
meek  and  demure  countenance. 

"  Daughter,"  said  he,  "  I  have  earnestly  prayed  to  San 
Francisco,  and  he  has  heard  my  prayer.  In  the  dead  of  the 
night  the  saint  appeared  to  me  in  a  dream,  but  with  a  frowning 
aspect.  '  Why,'  said  he,  '  dost  thou  pray  to  me  to  dispense 
with  this  treasure  of  the  Gentiles,  when  thou  seest  the  poverty 
of  my  chapel  ?  Go  to  the  house  of  Lope  Sanchez,  crave  in  my 
name  a  portion  of  the  Moorish  gold  to  furnish  two  candle 
sticks  for  the  main  altar,  and  let  them  possess  the  residue  in 
peace.' " 

When  the  good  woman  heard  of  this  vision,  she  crossed 
herself  with  awe,  and  going  to  the  secret  place  where  Lope 
had  hid  the  treasure,  she  filled  a  great  leathern  purse  with 
pieces  of  Moorish  gold,  and  gave  it  to  the  friar.  The  pious 
monk  bestowed  upon  her  in  return,  benedictions  enough,  if 
paid  by  heaven,  to  enrich  her  race  to  the  latest  posterity ; 
then  slipping  the  purse  into  the  sleeve  of  his  habit,  he  folded 
his  hands  upon  his  breast,  and  departed  with  an  air  of  humble 
thankfulness. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  TWO  DISCREET  STATUES.       249 

When  Lope  Sanchez  heard  of  this  second  donation  to  the 
church,  he  had  well  nigh  lost  his  senses.  "Unfortunate 
man,"  cried  he,  "  what  will  become  of  me  ?  I  shall  be  robbed 
by  piecemeal ;  I  shall  be  ruined  and  brought  to  beggary !  " 

It  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  his  wife  could  pacify 
him  by  reminding  him  of  the  countless  wealth  that  yet 
remained ;  and  how  considerate  it  was  for  San  Francisco  to 
rest  contended  with  so  small  a  portion. 

Unluckily,  Fray  Simon  had  a  number  of  poor  relations  to 
be  provided  for,  not  to  mention  some  half  dozen  sturdy, 
bullet-headed  orphan  children  and  destitude  foundlings,  that 
he  had  taken  under  his  care.  He  repeated  his  visits,  there 
fore,  from  day  to  day,  with  solicitations  on  behalf  of  Saint 
Doininick,  Saint  Andrew,  Saint  James,  until  poor  Lope  was 
driven  to  despair,  and  found  that,  unless  he  got  out  of  the 
reach  of  this  holy  friar,  he  should  have  to  make  peace 
offerings  to  every  saint  in  the  calendar.  He  determined, 
therefore,  to  pack  up  his  remaining  wealth,  beat  a  secret 
retreat  in  the  night,  and  make  off  to  another  part  of  the 
kingdom. 

Full  of  his  project,  he  bought  a  stout  mule  for  the  purpose, 
and  tethered  it  in  a  gloomy  vault,  underneath  the  tower  of  the 
Seven  Floors,  —  the  very  place  whence  the  Belludo,  or  goblin 
horse,  is  said  to  issue  forth  at  midnight,  and  scour  the  streets 
of  Granada,  pursued  by  a  pack  of  hellhounds.  Lope  Sanchez 
had  little  faith  in  the  story,  but  availed  himself  of  the  dread 
occasioned  by  it,  knowing  that  no  one  would  be  likely  to  pry 
into  the  subterranean  stable  of  the  phantom  steed.  He  sent 
off  his  family  in  the  course  of  the  day,  with  orders  to  wait  for 
him  at  a  distant  village  of  the  Vega.  As  the  night  advanced, 
he  conveyed  his  treasure  to  the  vault  under  the  tower,  and 
having  loaded  his  mule,  he  led  it  forth,  and  cautiously 
descended  the  dusky  avenue. 

Honest  Lope  had  taken  his  measures  with  the  utmost 
secrecy,  imparting  them  to  no  one  but  the  faithful  wife  of 
his  bosom.  By  some  miraculous  revelation,  however,  they 
became  known  to  Fray  Simon ;  the  zealous  friar  beheld 
these  infidel  treasures  on  the  point  of  slipping  forever  out 
of  his  grasp,  and  determined  to  have  one  more  dash  at  them 
for  the  benefit  of  the  church  and  San  Francisco.  Accordingly, 
when  the  bells  had  rung  for  animas,  and  all  the  Alhambra 
was  quiet,  he  stole  out  of  his  convent,  and,  descending 
through  the  Gate  of  Justice,  concealed  himself  among  the 
thickets  of  roses  and  laurels  that  border  the  great  avenue. 


250  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

Here  he  remained,  counting  the  quarters  of  hours  as  they 
were  sounded  on  the  bell  of  the  watch-tower,  and  listening  to 
the  dreary  hootings  of  owls,  and  the  distant  barking  of  dogs 
from  the  gypsy  caverns. 

At  length,  he  heard  the  tramp  of  hoofs,  and,  through  the 
gloom  of  the  overshadowing  trees,  imperfectly  beheld  a  steed 
descending  the  avenue.  The  sturdy  friar  chuckled  at  the 
idea  of  the  knowing  turn  he  was  about  to  serve  honest  Lope. 
Tucking  up  the  skirts  of  his  habit,  and  wriggling  like  a  cat 
watching  a  mouse,  he  waited  until  his  prey  was  directly 
before  him,  when  darting  forth  from  his  leafy  covert,  and 
putting  one  hand  on  the  shoulder,  and  the  other  on  the 
crupper,  he  made  a  vault  that  would  not  have  disgraced  the 
most  experienced  master  of  equitation,  and  alighted  well- 
forked  astride  the  steed.  "  Aha ! "  said  the  sturdy  friar,  "  we 
shall  now  see  who  best  understands  the  game." 

He  had  scarce  uttered  the  words,  when  the  mule  began  to 
kick  and  rear  and  plunge,  and  then  set  off  full  speed  down 
the  hill.  The  friar  attempted  to  check  him,  but  in  vain.  He 
bounded  from  rock  to  rock,  and  bush  to  bush ;  the  friar's 
habit  was  torn  to  ribbons,  and  fluttered  in  the  wind;  his 
shaven  poll  received  many  a  hard  knock  from  the  branches  of 
the  trees,  and  many  a  scratch  from  the  brambles.  To  add  to  his 
terror  and  distress,  he  found  a  pack  of  seven  hounds  in  full 
cry  at  his  heels,  and  perceived,  too  late,  that  he  was  actually 
mounted  upon  the  terrible  Belludo  ! 

Away  they  went,  according  to  the  ancient  phrase,  "  Pull 
devil,  pull  friar,"  down  the  great  avenue,  across  the  Plaza 
Nueva,  along  the  Zacatin,  around  the  Virarrambla, — never 
did  huntsman  and  hound  make  a  more  furious  run,  or  more 
infernal  uproar. 

In  vain  did  the  friar  invoke  every  saint  in  the  calendar,  and 
the  holy  virgin  into  the  bargain  ;  every  time  he  mentioned  a 
name  of  the  kind,  it  was  like  a  fresh  application  of  the  spur, 
and  made  the  Belludo  bound  as  high  as  a  house.  Through  the 
remainder  of  the  night  was  the  unlucky  Fray  Simon  carried 
hither  and  thither  and  whither  he  would  not,  until  every  bone 
in  his  body  ached,  and  he  suffered  a  loss  of  leather  too  griev 
ous  to  be  mentioned.  At  length,  the  crowing  of  a  cock  gave 
the  signal  of  returning  day.  At  the  sound,  the  goblin  steed 
wheeled  about,  and  galloped  back  for  his  tower.  Again  he 
scoured  the  Virarrambla,  the  Zacatin,  the  Plaza  Nueva,  and 
the  avenue  of  fountains,  the  seven  dogs  yelling  and  barking, 
and  leaping  up,  and  snapping  at  the  heels  of  the  terrified 


LEGEND  OF  THE  TWO  DISCREET  STATUES.       251 

friar.  The  first  streak  of  day  had  just  appeared  as  they 
reached  the  tower;  here  the  goblin  steed  kicked  up  his  heels, 
sent  the  friar  a  somerset  through  the  air,  plunged  into  the 
dark  vault  followed  by  the  infernal  pack,  and  a  profound 
silence  succeeded  to  the  late  deafening  clamor. 

Was  ever  so  diabolical  a  trick  played  off  upon  a  holy  friar  ? 
A  peasant  going  to  his  labors  at  early  dawn,  found  the  unfor 
tunate  Fray  Simon  lying  under  a  fig-tree  at  the  foot  of  the 
tower,  but  so  bruised  and  bedeviled,  that  he  could  neither 
speak  nor  move.  He  was  conveyed  with  all  care  and  tender 
ness  to  his  cell,  and  the  story  went  that  he  had  been  waylaid 
and  maltreated  by  robbers.  A  day  or  two  elapsed  before  he 
recovered  the  use  of  his  limbs  :  he  consoled  himself  in  the 
meantime,  witli  the  thoughts  that  though  the  mule  with  the 
treasure  had  escaped  him,  he  had  previously  had  some  rare 
pickings  at  the  infidel  spoils.  His  first  care  on  being  able  to 
use  his  limbs,  was  to  search  beneath  his  pallet,  where  he  had 
secreted  the  myrtle  wreath  and  the  leathern  pouches  of  gold, 
extracted  from  the  piety  of  dame  Sanchez.  What  was  his  dis 
may  at  finding  the  wreath,  in  effect,  but  a  withered  branch 
of  myrtle,  and  the  leathern  pouches  filled  with  sand  and 
gravel ! 

Fray  Simon,  with  all  his  chagrin,  had  the  discretion  to  hold 
his  tongue,  for  to  betray  the  secret  might  draw  on  him  the 
ridicule  of  the  public,  and  the  punishment  of  his  superior ;  it 
was  not  until  many  years  afterwards,  on  his  death-bed,  that 
he  revealed  to  his  confessor  his  nocturnal  ride  on  the  Belludo. 

Nothing  was  heard  of  Lope  Sanchez  for  a  long  time  after 
his  disappearance  from  the  Alhambra.  His  memory  was 
always  cherished  as  that  of  a  merry  companion,  though  it 
was  feared,  from  the  care  and  melancholy  observed  in  his  con 
duct  shortly  before  his  mysterious  departure,  that  poverty  and 
distress  had  driven  him  to  some  extremity.  Some  years  after 
wards,  one  of  his  old  companions,  an  invalid  soldier,  being  at 
Malaga,  was  knocked  down  and  nearly  run  over  by  a  coach 
and  six.  The  carriage  stopped;  an  old  gentleman,  magnifi 
cently  dressed,  with  a  bag-wig  and  sword,  stepped  out  to 
assist  the  poor  invalid.  What  was  the  astonishment  of  the 
latter  to  behold  in  this  grand  cavalier,  his  old  friend  Lope 
Sanchez,  who  was  actually  celebrating  the  marriage  of  his 
daughter  Sanchica,  with  one  of  the  first  grandees  in  the  land. 

The  carriage  contained  the  bridal  party.  There  was  dame 
Sanchez,  now  grown  as  round  as  a  barrel,  and  dressed  out  with 
feathers  and  jewels,  and  necklaces  of  pearls,  and  necklaces  of 


252  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

diamonds,  and  rings  on  every  finger,  altogether  a  finery  of 
apparel  that  had  not  been  seen  since  the  days  of  Queen  Sheba. 
The  little  Sanchica  had  now  grown  to  he  a  woman,  and  for 
grace  and  beauty  might  have  been  mistaken  for  a  duchess,  if 
not  a  princess  outright.  The  bridegroom  sat  beside  her,  rather 
a  withered,  spindle-shanked  little  man,  but  this  only  proved 
him  to  be  of  the  true  blue  blood,  a  legitimate  Spanish  grandee 
being  rarely  above  three  cubits  in  stature.  The  match  had 
been  of  the  mother's  making. 

Riches  had  not  spoiled  the  heart  of  honest  Lope.  He  kept 
his  old  comrade  with  him  for  several  days ;  feasted  him  like  a 
king,  took  him  to  plays  and  bull-fights,  and  at  length  sent  him 
away  rejoicing,  with  a  big  bag  of  money  for  himself,  and 
another  to  be  distributed  among  his  ancient  messmates  of  the 
Alhambra. 

Lope  always  gave  out  that  a  rich  brother  had  died  in  Amer 
ica,  and  left  him  heir  to  a  copper  mine,  but  the  shrewd  gossips 
of  the  Alhambra  insist  that  his  wealth  was  all  derived  from 
his"  having  discovered  the  secret  guarded  b}>-  the  two  marble 
nymphs  of  the  Alhambra.  It  is  remarked,  that  these  very 
discreet  statues  continue  even  unto  the  present  day  with  their 
eyes  fixed  most  significantly  on  the  same  part  of  the  wall, 
which  leads  many  to  suppose  there  is  still  some  hidden  treas 
ure  remaining  there,  well  worthy  the  attention  of  the  enter 
prising  traveller.  Though  others,  and  particularly  all  female 
visitors,  regard  them  with  great  complacency,  as  lasting  monu 
ments  of  the  fact,  that  women  can  keep  a  secret. 


THE  CRUSADE   OF  THE   GRAND   MASTER  OF 
ALCANTARA. 

IN  the  course  of  a  morning's  research  among  the  old  chron 
icles  in  the  Library  of  the  University,  I  came  upon  a  little 
episode  in  the  history  of  Granada,  so  strongly  characteristic 
of  the  bigot  zeal  which  sometimes  inflamed  the  Christian 
enterprises  against  this  splendid  but  devoted  city,  that  I  was 
tempted  to  draw  it  forth  from  the  parchment-bound  volume 
in  which  it  lay  entombed  and  submit  it  to  the  reader. 

In  the  year  of  redemption.  1394.  there  was  a  valiant  and 
devout  grand  master  of  Alcj'intara.  named  Martin  Yanez  de 
Barbudo,  who  was  inflamed  with  a  vehement  desire  to  serve 


THE  CRUSADE  OF  THE  GRAND  MASTER.         253 

God  and  fight  the  Moors.  Unfortunately  for  this  brave  and 
pious  cavalier,  a  profound  peace  existed  between  the  Chris 
tian  and  Moslem  powers.  Henry  III.  had  just  ascended  the 
throne  of  Castile,  and  Yusef  ben  Mohammed  had  succeeded 
to  the  throne  of  Granada,  and  both  were  disposed  to  continue 
the  peace  which  had  prevailed  between  their  fathers.  The 
grand  master  looked  with  repining  at  Moorish  banners  and 
weapons,  which  decorated  his  castle  hall,  trophies  of  the 
exploits  of  his  predecessors ;  and  repined  at  his  fate  to  exist 
in  a  period  of  such  inglorious  tranquillity. 

At  length  his  impatience  broke  through  all  bounds,  and 
seeing  that  he  could  find  no  public  war  in  which  to  engage, 
he  resolved  to  carve  out  a  little  war  for  himself.  Such  at 
least  is  the  account  given  by  some  ancient  chronicles,  though 
others  give  the  following  as  the  motive  for  this  sudden  resolu 
tion  to  go  campaigning. 

As  the  grand  master  was  one  day  seated  at  table  with  sev 
eral  of  his  cavaliers,  a  man  suddenly  entered  the  hall ;  tall, 
meagre  and  bony,  with  haggard  countenance  and  fiery  eye. 
All  recognized  him  for  a  hermit,  who  had  been  a  soldier  in 
his  youth,  but  now  led  a  life  of  penitence  in  a  cave.  He 
advanced  to  the  table  and  struck  upon  it  with  a  fist  that 
seemed  of  iron.  "  Cavaliers,"  said  he,  "  why  sit  ye  here 
idly,  with  your  weapons  resting  against  the  wall,  while  the 
enemies  of  the  faith  lord  it  over  the  fairest  portion  of  the 
land?" 

"  Holy  father,  what  wouldst  thou  have  us  do,"  asked  the 
grand  master,  "  seeing  the  wars  are  over  and  our  swords  bound 
up  by  treaties  of  peace  ?  " 

"  Listen  to  my  words,"  replied  the  hermit.  "  As  I  was 
seated  late  at  night  at  the  entrance  of  my  cave,  contemplating 
the  heavens,  I  fell  into  a  revery,  and  a  wonderful  vision  was 
presented  to  me.  I  beheld  the  moon,  a  mere  crescent,  yet  lumi 
nous  as  the  brightest  silver,  and  it  hung  in  the  heavens  over 
the  kingdom  of  Granada.  While  I  was  looking  at  it,  behold 
there  shot  forth  from  the  firmament  a  blazing  star,  which,  as 
it  went,  drew  after  it  all  the  stars  of  heaven  ;  and  they  assailed 
the  moon  and  drove  it  from  the  skies ;  and  the  whole  firma 
ment  was  filled  with  the  glory  of  that  blazing  star.  While 
mine  eyes  were  yet  dazzled  by  this  wondrous  sight,  some  one 
stood  by  me  with  snowy  wings  and  a  shining  countenance. 
'  Oh  man  of  prayer,'  said  he,  '  get  thee  to  the  grand  master 
of  Alcantara  and  tell  him  of  the  vision  thou  hast  beheld.  He 
is  the  blazing  star,  destined  to  drive  the  crescent,  the  Moslem 


254  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

emblem,  from  the  land.  Let  him  boldly  draw  the  sword  and 
continue  the  good  work  begun  by  Pelazo  of  old,  and  victory 
will  assuredly  attend  his  banner.' " 

The  grand  master  listened  to  the  hermit  as  to  a  messenger 
from  heaven,  and  followed  his  counsel  in  all  things.  By  his 
advice  he  despatched  two  of  his  stoutest  warriors,  armed  cap- 
a-pie,  on  an  embassy  to  the  Moorish  king.  They  entered  the 
gates  of  Granada  without  molestation,  as  the  nations  were  at 
peace ;  and  made  their  way  to  the  Alhambra,  where  they  were 
promptly  admitted  to  the  king,  who  received  them  in  the  Hall 
of  Ambassadors.  They  delivered  their  message  roundly  and 
hardily.  "  We  come,  oh  king,  from  Don  Martin  Yanez  de 
Barbudo,  grand  master  of  Alcantara;  who  affirms  the  faith  of 
Jesus  Christ  to  be  true  and  holy,  and  that  of  Mahomet  false 
and  detestable,  and  he  challenges  thee  to  maintain  the  con 
trary,  hand  to  hand,  in  single  combat.  Shouldst  thou  refuse, 
he  offers  to  combat  with  one  hundred  cavaliers  against  two 
hundred  ;  or,  in  like  proportion,  to  the  number  of  one  thou 
sand,  always  allowing  thy  faith  a  double  number  of  cham 
pions.  Remember,  oh  king,  that  thou  canst  not  refuse  this 
challenge-,  since  thy  prophet,  knowing  the  impossibility  of 
maintaining  his  doctrines  by  argument,  has  commanded  his 
followers  to  enforce  them  with  the  sword." 

The  beard  of  king  Jusef  trembled  with  indignation.  "  The 
master  of  Alcantara,"  said  he,  "  is  a  madman  to  send  such  a 
message,  and  ye  are  saucy  knaves  to  bring  it." 

So  saying,  he  ordered  the  ambassadors  to  be  thrown  into  a 
dungeon,  by  way  of  giving  them  a  lesson  in  diplomacy ;  and 
they  were  roughly  treated  on  their  way  thither  by  the  popu 
lace,  who  were  exasperated  at  this  insult  to  their  sovereign 
and  their  faith. 

The  grand  master  of  Alcantara  could  scarcely  credit  the  tid 
ings  of  the  maltreatment  of  his  messengers ;  but  the  hermit 
rejoiced  when  they  were  repeated  to  him.  "  God,"  said  he. 
"  has  blinded  this  infidel  king  for  his  downfall.  Since  he  has 
sent  no  reply  to  thy  defiance,  consider  it  accepted.  Marshal 
thy  forces,  therefore  ;  march  forward  to  Granada ;  pause  not 
until  thou  seest  the  gate  of  Elvira.  A  miracle  will  be  wrought 
in  thy  favor.  There  will  be  a  great  battle  •,  the  enemy  will  be 
overthrown;  but  not  one  of  thy  soldiers  will  be  slain." 

The  grand  master  called  upon  every  warrior  zealous  in  the 
Christian  cause  to  aid  him  in  this  crusade.  In  a  little  while 
three  hundred  horsemen  and  a  thousand  foot-soldiers  rallied 
under  his  standard.  The  horsemen  were  veterans  ;  seasoned  to 


THE  CRUSADE  OF  THE  GRAND  MASTER.          255 

battle  and  well  armed ;  but  the  infantry  were  raw  and  undis 
ciplined.  The  victory,  however,  was  to  be  miraculous ;  the 
grand  master  was  a  man  of  surpassing  faith,  and  knew  that 
the  weaker  the  means  the  greater  the  miracle.  He  sallied 
forth  confidently,  therefore,  with  his  little  army,  and  the  her 
mit  strode  ahead  bearing  a  cross  on  the  end  of  a  long  pole, 
and  beneath  it  the  pennon  of  the  order  of  Alcantara 

As  they  approached  the  city  of  Cordova  they  were  overtaken 
by  messengers,  spurring  in  all  haste,  bearing  missives  from 
the  Castilian  monarch,  forbidding  the  enterprise.  The  grand 
master  was  a  man  of  a  single  mind  and  a  single  will ;  in  other 
words,  a  man  of  one  idea.  "  Were  I  on  any  other  errand," 
said  he,  "  I  should  obey  these  letters  as  coming  from  my  lord 
the  king ;  but  I  am  sent  by  a  higher  power  than  the  king.  In 
compliance  with  its  commands  I  have  advanced  the  cross  thus 
far  against  the  infidels ;  and  it  would  be  treason  to  the  stand 
ard  of  Christ  to  turn  back  without  achieving  my  errand." 

So  the  trumpets  were  sounded  ;  the  cross  was  again  reared 
aloft,  and  the  band  of  zealots  resumed  their  march.  As  they 
passed  through  the  streets  of  Cordova  the  people  were  amazed 
at  beholding  a  hermit  bearing  a  cross  at  the  head  of  a  warlike 
multitude  ;  but  when  they  learnt  that  a  miraculous  victory  was 
to  be  effected  and  Granada  destroyed,  laborers  and  artisans 
threw  by  the  implements  of  their  handicrafts  and  joined  in 
the  crusade ;  while  a  mercenary  rabble  followed  on  with  a  view 
of  plunder. 

A  number  of  cavaliers  of  rank  who  lacked  faith  in  the  prom 
ised  miracle,  and  dreaded  the  consequences  of  this  unpro 
voked  irruption  into  the  country  of  the  Moor,  assembled  at 
the  bridge  of  the  Guadalquivir  and  endeavored  to  dissuade 
the  grand  master  from  crossing.  He  was  deaf  to  prayers, 
expostulations  or  menaces  -,  his  followers  were  enraged  at  this 
opposition  to  the  cause  of  the  faith;  they  put  an  end  to  the 
parley  by  their  clamors ;  the  cross  was  again  reared  and  borne 
triumphantly  across  the  bridge. 

The  multitude  increased  as  it  proceeded ;  by  the  time  the 
grand  master  had  reached  Alcala  la  Real,  which  stands  on  a 
mountain  overlooking  the  Vega  of  Granada,  upwards  of  five 
thousand  men  on  foot  had  joined  his  standard. 

At  Alcala  came  forth  Alonzo  Fernandez  de  Cordova,  Lord 
of  Aguilar,  his  brother  Diego  Fernandez,  Marshal  of  Castile, 
and  other  cavaliers  of  valor  and  experience.  Placing  them 
selves  in  the  way  of  the  grand  master,  "  What  madness  is 
this,  Don  Murtm  ?  "  said  they  ;  "  the  Moorish  king  has  two 


256  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

hundred  thousand  foot-soldiers  and  five  thousand  horse 
within  his  walls ;  what  can  you  and  your  handful  of  cavaliers 
and  your  noisy  rabble  do  against  such  force  ?  Bethink  you 
of  the  disasters  which  have  befallen  other  Christian  com 
manders,  who  have  crossed  these  rocky  borders  with  ten 
times  your  force.  Think,  too,  of  the  mischief  that  will  be 
brought  upon  this  kingdom  by  an  outrage  of  the  kind 
committed  by  a  man  of  your  rank  and  importance,  a  grand 
master  of  Alcantara.  Pause,  we  entreat  you,  while  the  truce 
is  yet  unbroken.  Await  within  the  borders  the  reply  of 
the  king  of  Granada  to  your  challenge.  If  he  agree  to  meet 
you  singly,  or  with  champions  two  or  three,  it  will  be  your 
individual  contest,  and  fight  it  out  in  God's  name ;  if  he 
refuse,  you  may  return  home  with  great  honor  and  the  dis 
grace  will  fall  upon  the  Moors." 

Several  cavaliers,  who  had  hitherto  followed  the  grand 
master  with  devoted  zeal,  were  moved  by  these  expostulations, 
and  suggested  to  him  the  policy  of  listening  to  this  advice. 

"  Cavaliers,"  said  he,  addressing  himself  to  Alonzo  Fernan 
dez  de  Cordova  and  his  companions,  "  I  thank  you  for  the 
counsel  you  have  so  kindly  bestowed  upon  me,  and  if  I  were 
merely  in  pursuit  of  individual  glory  1  might  be  swayed  by 
it.  But  I  am  engaged  to  achieve  a  great  triumph  of  the  faith, 
which  God  is  to  effect  by  miracle  through  my  means.  As  to 
you,  cavaliers,"  turning  to  those  of  his  followers  who  had 
wavered,  "  if  your  hearts  fail  you,  or  you  repent  of  having  put 
your  hands  to  this  good  work,  return  in  God's  name,  and  my 
blessing  go  with  you.  For  myself,  though  I  have  none  to  stand 
by  me  but  this  holy  hermit,  yet  will  I  assuredly  proceed ; 
until  I  have  planted  this  sacred  standard  on  the  walls  of  Gra 
nada,  or  perished  in  the  attempt." 

"  Don  Martin  Yanez  de  Barbudo,"  replied  the  cavaliers,  "  we 
are  not  men  to  turn  our  backs  upon  our  commander,  however 
rash  his  enterprise.  We  spoke  but  in  caution.  Lead  on,  there 
fore,  and  if  it  be  to  the  death,  be  assured  to  the  death  we  will 
follow  thee." 

By  this  time  the  common  soldiers  became  impatient.  "  For 
ward  !  forward ! "  shouted  they.  "  Forward  in  the  cause  of 
faith."  So  the  grand  master  gave  signal,  the  hermit  again 
reared  the  cross  aloft,  and  they  poured  down  a  defile  of  the 
mountain,  with  solemn  chants  of  triumph. 

That  night  they  encamped  at  the  river  of  Azores,  and  the 
next  morning,  which  was  Sunday,  crossed  the  borders.  Their 
first  pause  was  at  an  atalaya  or  solitary  tower,  built  upon  a 


THE  CRUSADE  OF  THE  GRAND  MASTER.         257 

rock  ;  a  frontier  post  to  keep  a  watch  upon  the  border,  and 
give  notice  of  invasion.  It  was  thence  called  el  Torre  del 
Exea  (the  tower  of  the  spy).  The  grand  master  halted  before 
it  and  summoned  its  petty  garrison  to  surrender.  He  was 
answered  by  a  shower  of  stones  and  arrows,  which  wounded 
him  in  the  hand  and  killed  three  of  his  men. 

"  How  is  this,  father  ?  "  said  he  to  the  hermit,  "you  assured 
me  that  not  one  of  my  followers  would  be  slain !  " 

"  True,  iny  son  ;  but  I  meant  in  the  great  battle  of  the 
infidel  king ;  what  need  is  there  of  miracle  to  aid  in  the  cap 
ture  of  a  petty  tower  ?  " 

The  grand  master  was  satisfied.  He  ordered  wood  to  be 
piled  against  the  door  of  the  tower  to  burn  it  down.  In  the 
mean  time  provisions  were  unloaded  from  the  sumpter-mules, 
and  the  crusaders,  withdrawing  beyond  bow-shot,  sat  down  on 
the  grass  to  a  repast  to  strengthen  them  for  the  arduous  day's 
work  before  them.  While  thus  engaged,  they  were  startled 
by  the  sudden  appearance  of  a  great  Moorish  host.  The 
atalayas  had  given  the  alarm  by  fire  and  smoke  from  the 
mountain  tops  of  "  an  enemy  across  the  border,"  and  the  king  of 
Granada  had  sallied  forth  with  a  great  force  to  the  encounter. 

The  crusaders,  nearly  taken  by  surprise,  flew  to  arms  and 
prepared  for  battle.  The  grand  master  ordered  his  three 
hundred  horsemen  to  dismount  and  fight  on  foot  in  support  of 
the  infantry.  The  Moors,  however,  charged  so  suddenly  that 
they  separated  the  cavaliers  from  the  foot-soldiers  and  pre 
vented  their  uniting.  The  grand  master  gave  the  old  war 
cry,  "  Santiago !  Santiago  !  and  close  Spain  !  "  He  and  his 
knights  breasted  the  fury  of  the  battle,  but  were  surrounded 
by  a  countless  host  and  assailed  with  arrows,  stones,  darts, 
and  arquebuses.  Still  they  fought  fearlessly,  and  made 
prodigious  slaughter.  The  hermit  mingled  in  the  hottest  of 
the  fight.  In  one  hand  he  bore  the  cross,  in  the  other  he 
brandished  a  sword,  with  which  he  dealt  about  him  like  a 
maniac,  slaying  several  of  the  enemy,  until  he  sank  to  the 
ground  covered  with  wounds.  The  grand  master  saw  him 
fall,  and  saw  too  late  the  fallacy  of  his  prophecies.  Despair, 
however,  only  made  him  fight  the  more  fiercely,  until  he  also 
fell  overpowered  by  numbers.  His  devoted  cavaliers  emulated 
his  holy  zeal.  Not  one  turned  his  back  nor  asked  for  mercy  ; 
all  fought  until  they  fell.  As  to  the  foot-soldiers,  many  were 
killed,  many  taken  prisoners ;  the  residue  escaped  to  Alcala 
la  Real.  When  the  Moors  came  to  strip  the  slain,  the  wounds 
of  the  cavaliers  were  all  found  to  be  in  front. 


258  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

Such  was  the  catastrophe  of  this  fanatic  enterprise.  The 
Moors  vaunted  it  as  a  decisive  proof  of  the  superior  sanctity 
of  their  faith,  and  extolled  their  king  to  the  skies  when  he 
returned  in  triumph  to  Granada. 

As  it  was  satisfactorily  shown  that  this  crusade  was  the 
enterprise  of  an  individual  and  contrary  to  the  express  orders 
of  the  king  of  Castile,  the  peace  of  the  two  kingdoms  was 
not  interrupted.  Nay,  the  Moors  evinced  a  feeling  of  respect 
for  the  valor  of  the  unfortunate  grand  master,  and  readily 
gave  up  his  body  to  Don  Alonzo  Fernandez  de  Cordova,  who 
came  from  Alcala  to  seek  it.  The  Christians  of  the  frontier 
united  in  paying  the  last  sad  honors  to  his  memory.  His  body 
was  placed  upon  a  bier,  covered  with  the  pennon  of  the  order 
of  Alcantara ;  and  the  broken  cross,  the  emblem  of  his  con 
fident  hopes  and  fatal  disappointment,  was  borne  before  it. 
In  this  way  his  remains  were  carried  back  in  funeral  proces 
sion,  through  the  mountain  tract  which  he  had  traversed  so 
resolutely.  Wherever  it  passed,  through  a  town  or  village, 
the  populace  followed,  with  tears  and  lamentations,  bewailing 
him  as  a  valiant  knight  and  a  martyr  to  the  faith.  His  body 
was  interred  in  the  chapel  of  the  convent  of  Santa  Maria  de 
Almocovara,  and  on  his  sepulchre  may  still  be  seen  engraven 
in  quaint  and  antique  Spanish  the  following  testimonial  to  his 
bravery : 

"  HERE   LIES   ONE   WHOSE   HEART    NEVEU   KNEW   FEAR." 

(Aqui  yaz  aquel  que  par  neua  cosa  nunca  eve  pavor  en  seu  corazon.)1 


SPANISH   ROMANCE. 

IN  the  latter  part  of  my  sojourn  in  the  Alhambra,  I  made 
frequent  descents  into  the  Jesuits'  Library  of  the  University  ; 
and  relished  more  and  more  the  old  Spanish  chronicles,  which 
I  found  there  bound  in  parchment.  I  delight  in  those  quaint 
histories  which  treat  of  the  times  when  the  Moslems  main 
tained  a  foothold  in  the  Peninsula.  With  all  their  bigotry 
and  occasional  intolerance,  they  are  full  of  noble  acts  and  gen 
erous  sentiments,  and  have  a  high,  spicy,  Oriental  flavor,  not 
to  be  found  in  other  records  of  the  times,  which  were  merely 

1  Torres.  Hist.  Ord.  Alcantara.    Cron.  Enrique  III.,  por  Pedro  Lopez  de  Ayala. 


SPANISH  ROMANCE.  259 

European.  In  fact,  Spain,  even  at  the  present  day,  is  a  coun 
try  apart ;  severed  in  history,  habits,  manners,  and  modes  of 
thinking,  from  all  the  rest  of  Europe.  It  is  a  romantic  coun 
try  ;  but  its  romance  has  none  of  the  sentimentality  of  modern 
European  romance  ;  it  is  chiefly  derived  from  the  brilliant 
regions  of  the  East,  and  from  the  high-minded  school  of  Sar 
acenic  chivalry. 

The  Arab  invasion  and  conquest  brought  a  higher  civiliza 
tion  and  a  nobler  style  of  thinking  into  Gothic  Spain.  The 
Arabs  were  a  quick-witted,  sagacious,  proud-spirited,  and  poet 
ical  people  and  were  imbued  with  Oriental  science  and  litera 
ture.  Wherever  they  established  a  seat  of  power,  it  became  a 
rallying  place  for  the  learned  and  ingenious ;  and  they  soft 
ened  and  refined  the  people  whom  they  conquered.  By  de 
grees,  occupancy  seemed  to  give  them  an  hereditary  right  to 
their  foothold  in  the  land  ;  they  ceased  to  be  looked  upon  as 
invaders,  and  were  regarded  as  rival  neighbors.  The  penin 
sula,  broken  up  into  a  variety  of  states,  both  Christian  and 
Moslem,  became,  for  centuries,  a  great  campaigning  ground, 
where  the  art  of  war  seemed  to  be  the  principal  business  of 
man,  and  was  carried  to  the  highest  pitch  of  romantic  chivalry. 
The  original  ground  of  hostility,  a  difference  of  faith,  gradu 
ally  lost  its  rancor.  Neighboring  states,  of  opposite  creeds, 
were  occasionally  linked  together  in  alliances,  offensive  and 
defensive ;  so  that  the  cross  and  crescent  were  to  be  seen  side 
by  side,  fighting  against  some  common  enemy.  In  times  of 
peace,  too,  the  noble  youth  of  either  faith  resorted  to  the  same 
cities,  Christian  or  Moslem,  to  school  themselves  in  military 
science.  Even  in  the  temporary  truces  of  sanguinary  wars, 
the  warriors  who  had  recently  striven  together  in  the  deadly 
conflicts  of  the  field,  laid  aside  their  animosity,  met  at  tour 
naments,  jousts,  and  other  military  festivities,  and  exchanged 
the  courtesies  of  gentle  and  generous  spirits.  Thus  the  op 
posite  races  became  frequently  mingled  together  in  peaceful 
intercourse,  or  if  any  rivalry  took  place,  it  was  in  those  high 
courtesies  and  nobler  acts,  which  bespeak  the  accomplished 
cavalier.  Warriors,  of  opposite  creeds,  became  ambitious  of 
transcending  each  other  in  magnanimity  as  well  as  valor. 
Indeed,  the  chivalric  virtues  were  refined  upon  to  a  degree 
sometimes  fastidious  and  constrained  ;  but  at  other  times, 
inexpressibly  noble  and  affecting.  The  annals  of  the  times 
teem  with  illustrious  instances  of  high-wrought  courtesy,  ro 
mantic  generosity,  lofty  disinterestedness,  and  punctilious 
honor,  that  warm  the  very  soul  to  read  them.  These  have 


260  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

furnished  themes  for  national  plays  and  poems,  or  have  been 
celebrated  in  those  all-pervading  ballads,  which  are  as  the  life- 
breath  of  the  people,  and  thus  have  continued  to  exercise  an 
influence  on  the  national  character,  which  centuries  of  vicissi 
tude  and  decline  have  not  been  able  to  destroy  ;  so  that,  with 
all  their  faults,  and  they  are  many,  the  Spaniards,  even  at  the; 
present  day,  are,  on  many  points,  the  most  high-minded  and 
proud-spirited  people  of  Europe.  It  is  true,  the  romance  of 
feeling  derived  from  the  sources  I  have  mentioned,  has,  like 
all  other  romance,  its  affectations  and  extremes.  It  renders 
the  Spaniard  at  times  pompous  and  grandiloquent ;  prone  to 
carry  the  "  pundonor,"  or  point  of  honor,  beyond  the  bounds  of 
sober  sense  and  sound  morality,  disposed,  in  the  midst  of  pov 
erty,  to  affect  the  "  grande  caballero,"  and  to  look  down  with 
sovereign  disdain  upon  "arts  mechanical,"  and  all  the  gain 
ful  pursuits  of  plebeian  life  ;  but  this  very  inflation  of  spirit, 
while  it  fills  his  brain  with  vapors,  lifts  him  above  a  thousand 
meannesses  ;  and  though  it  often  keeps  him  in  indigence, 
ever  protects  him  from  vulgarity. 

In  the  present  day,  when  popular  literature  is  running  into 
the  low  levels  of  life,  and  luxuriating  on  the  vices  and  follies 
of  mankind ;  and  when  the  universal  pursuit  of  gain  is  tram 
pling  down  the  early  growth  of  poetic  feeling,  and  wearing  out 
the  verdure  of  the  soul,  I  question  whether  it  would  not  be 
of  service  for  the  reader  occasionally  to  turn  to  these  records 
of  prouder  times  and  loftier  modes  of  thinking ;  and  to  steep 
himself  to  the  very  lips  in  old  Spanish  romance. 

With  these  preliminary  suggestions,  the  fruit  of  a  morning's 
reading  and  rumination  in  the  old  Jesuits'  Library  of  the 
University,  I  will  give  him  a  legend  in  point,  drawn  forth 
from  one  of  the  venerable  chronicles  alluded  to. 


LEGEND  OF  DON  MUNIO   SANCHO  DE  HINOJOSA. 

IN  the  cloisters  of  the  ancient  Benedictine  convent  of  San 
Domingo,  at  Silos,  in  Castile,  are  the  mouldering  yet  magnifi 
cent  monuments  of  the  once  powerful  and  chivalrous  family 
of  Hinojosa.  Among  these  reclines  the  marble  figure  of  a 
knight,  in  complete  armor,  with  the  hands  pressed  together, 
as  if  in  prayer.  On  one  side  of  his  tomb  is  sculptured  in 
relief  a  band  of  Christian  cavaliers,  capturing  a  cavalcade  of 
male  and  female  Moors ;  on  the  other  side,  the  same  cavaliers 


LEGEND  OF  DON  MUNIO  SANCHO  DE  HINOJOSA.     261 

are  represented  kneeling  before  an  altar.  The  tomb,  like 
most  of  the  neighboring  monuments,  is  almost  in  ruins,  and 
the  sculpture  is  nearly  unintelligible,  excepting  tc  the  keen 
eye  of  the  antiquary.  The  story  connected  with  the  sepulchre, 
however,  is  still  preserved  in  the  old  Spanish  chronicles,  and 
is  to  the  following  purport. 


IN  old  times,  several  hundred  years  ago,  there  was  a  noble 
Castilian  cavalier,  named  Don  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa, 
lord  of  a  border  castle,  which  had  stood  the  brunt  of  many  a 
Moorish  foray.  He  had  seventy  horsemen  as  his  household 
troops,  all  of  the  ancient  Castilian  proof;  stark  warriors,  hard 
riders,  and  men  of  iron ;  with  these  he  scoured  the  Moorish 
lands,  and  made  his  name  terrible  throughout  the  borders. 
His  castle  hall  was  covered  with  banners,  cimeters,  and  Mos 
lem  helms,  the  trophies  of  his  prowess.  Don  Munio  was, 
moreover,  a  keen  huntsman ;  and  rejoiced  in  hounds  of  all 
kinds,  steeds  for  the  chase,  and  hawks  for  the  towering  sport 
of  falconry.  When  not  engaged  in  warfare,  his  delight  was 
to  beat  up  the  neighboring  forests ;  and  scarcely  ever  did  he 
ride  forth,  without  hound  and  horn,  a  boar-spear  in  his  hand, 
or  a  hawk  upon  his  fist,  and  an  attendant  train  of  huntsmen. 

His  wife,  Dona  Maria  Palacin,  was  of  a  gentle  and  timid 
nature,  little  fitted  to  be  the  spouse  of  so  hardy  and  adventu 
rous  a  knight ;  and  many  a  tear  did  the  poor  lady  shed,  when  he 
sallied  forth  upon  his  daring  enterprises,  and  many  a  prayer 
did  she  offer  up  for  his  safety. 

As  this  doughty  cavalier  was  one  day  hunting,  he  stationed 
himself  in  a  thicket,  on  the  borders  of  a  green  glade  of  the 
forest,  and  dispersed  his  followers  to  rouse  the  game,  and  drive 
it  toward  his  stand.  He  had  not  been  here  long,  when  a  cav 
alcade  of  Moors,  of  both  sexes,  came  prankling  over  the  forest 
lawn.  They  were  unarmed,  and  magnificently  dressed  in  robes 
of  tissue  and  embroidery,  rich  shawls  of  India,  bracelets  and 
anklets  of  gold,  and  jewels  that  sparkled  in  the  sun. 

At  the  head  of  this  gay  cavalcade  rode  a  youthful  cavalier, 
superior  to  the  rest  in  dignity  and  loftiness  of  demeanor, 
and  in  splendor  of  attire :  beside  him  was  a  damsel,  whose 
veil,  blown  aside  by  the  breeze,  displayed'  a  face  of  surpassing 
beauty,  and  eyes  cast  down  in  maiden  modesty,  yet  beaming 
with  tenderness  and  joy. 

Don  Munio  thanked  his  stars  for  sending  him  such  a  prize, 
and  exulted  at  the  thought  of  bearing  home  to  his  wife  the 


262  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

glittering  spoils  of  these  infidels.  Putting  his  hunting  horn  to 
his  lips,  he  gave  a  blast  that  rung  through  the  forest.  His 
huntsmen  came  running  from  all  quarters,  and  the  astonished 
Moors  were  surrounded  and  made  captives. 

The  beautiful  Moor  wrung  her  hands  in  despair,  and  her 
female  attendants  uttered  the  most  piercing  cries.  The  young 
Moorish  cavalier  alone  retained  self-possession.  He  inquired 
the  name  of  the  Christian  knight  who  commanded  this  troop 
of  horsemen.  When  told  that  it  was  Don  Munio  Sancho  de 
Hiuojosa,  his  countenance  lighted  up.  Approaching  that 
cavalier,  and  kissing  his  hand,  '•'  Don  Munio  Sancho,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  heard  of  your  fame  as  a  true  and  valiant  knight,  ter 
rible  in  arms,  but  schooled  in  the  noble  virtues  of  chivalry.  Such 
do  I  trust  to  find  you.  In  me  you  behold  Abadil,  son  of  a 
Moorish  alcayde.  1  am  on  the  way  to  celebrate  my  nuptials 
with  this  lady  ;  chance  has  thrown  us  in  your  power,  but  I 
confide  in  your  magnanimity.  Take  all  our  treasure  and  jewels  ; 
demand  what  ransom  you  think  proper  for  our  persons,  but 
suffer  us  not  to  be  insulted  nor  dishonored." 

When  the  good  knight  heard  this  appeal,  and  beheld  the 
beauty  of  the  youthful  pair,  his  heart  was  touched  with  ten 
derness  and  courtesy.  "  God  forbid,"  said  he,  ';  that  I  should 
disturb  such  happy  nuptials.  My  prisoners  in  troth  shall  ye 
be,  for  fifteen  days,  and  immured  within  my  castle,  where  I 
claim,  as  conqueror,  the  right  of  celebrating  your  espousals." 

So  saying,  he  despatched  one  of  his  fleetest  horsemen  in 
advance,  to  notify  Dona  Maria  Palacin  of  the  coming  of  this 
bridal  party  ;  while  he  and  his  huntsmen  escorted  the  caval 
cade,  not  as  captors,  but  as  a  guard  of  honor.  As  they  drew 
near  to  the  castle,  the  banners  were  hung  out.  and  the  trum 
pets  sounded  from  the  battlements ;  and  on  their  nearer  ap 
proach,  the  draw-bridge  was  lowered,  and  Dona  Maria  came 
forth  to  meet  them,  attended  by  her  ladies  and  knights,  her 
pages  and  her  minstrels.  She  took  the  young  bride,  Allifra, 
in  her  arms,  kissed  her  with  the  tenderness  of  a  sister,  and 
conducted  her  into  the  castle.  In  the  mean  time,  Don  Munio 
sent  forth  missives  in  every  direction,  and  had  viands  and 
dainties  of  all  kinds  collected  from  the  country  round ;  and 
the  wedding  of  the  Moorish  lovers  was  celebrated  with  all 
possible  state  and  festivity.  For  fifteen  days,  the  castle  was 
given  up  to  joy  and  revelry.  There  were  tiltings  and  jousts 
at  the  ring,  and  bull-fights,  and  banquets,  and  dances  to  the 
sound  of  minstrelsy.  When  the  fifteen  days  were  at  an  end. 
he  made  the  bride  and  bridegroom  magnificent  presents,  and 


LEGEND  OF  DON  MUNIO   SANCHO  DE  UlNOJOSA.     263 

conducted  them  and  their  attendants  safely  beyond,the  borders. 
Such,  in  old  times,  were  the  courtesy  and  generosity  of  a 
Spanish  cavalier. 

Several  years  after  this  event,  the  king  of  Castile  summoned 
his  nobles  to  assist  him  in  a  campaign  against  the  Moors.  Don 
Munio  Sancho  Avas  among  the  first  to  answer  to  the  call,  with 
seventy  horsemen,  all  stanch  and  well-tried  warriors.  His 
wife,  Dona  Maria,  hung  about  his  neck.  "  Alas,  my  lord  ! " 
exclaimed  she,  "  how  often  wilt  thou  tempt  thy  fate,  and  when 
will  thy  thirst  for  glory  be  appeased  ?  " 

"  One  battle  more,"  replied  Don  Munio,  "  one  battle  more, 
for  the  honor  of  Castile,  and  I  here  make  a  vow,  that  when 
this  is  over,  I  will  lay  by  my  sword,  and  repair  with  my  cava 
liers  in  pilgrimage  to  the  sepulchre  of  our  Lord  at  Jerusalem." 
The  cavaliers  all  joined  with  him  in  the  vow,  and  Dona  Maria 
felt  in  some  degree  soothed  in  spirit;  still,  she  saw  with  a 
heavy  heart  the  departure  of  her  husband,  and  watched  his 
banner  with  wistful  eyes,  until  it  disappeared  among  the  trees 
of  the  forest. 

The  king  of  Castile  led  his  army  to  the  plains  of  Almanara, 
where  they  encountered  the  Moorish  host,  near  to  Ucles.  The 
battle  was  long  and  bloody ;  the  Christians  repeatedly  wa 
vered,  and  were  as  often  rallied  by  the  energy  of  their  com 
manders.  Don  Munio  was  covered  with  wounds,  but  refused 
to  leave  the  field.  The  Christians  at  length  gave  way,  and 
the  king  was  hardly  pressed,  and  in  danger  of  being  cap 
tured. 

Don  Munio  called  upon  his  cavaliers  to  follow  him  to  the 
rescue.  "  Now  is  the  time."  cried  he,  "  to  prove  your  loyalty. 
Fall  to,  like  brave  men  !  We  fight  for  the  true  faith,  and  if 
we  lose  our  lives  here,  we  gain  a  better  life  hereafter." 

Rushing  with  his  men  between  the  king  and  his  pursuers, 
they  checked  the  latter  in  their  career,  and  gave  time  for  their 
monarch  to  escape  ;  but  they  fell  victims  to  their  loyalty. 
They  all  fought  to  the  last  gasp.  Don  Munio  was  singled  out 
by  a  powerful  Moorish  knight,  but  having  been  wounded  in 
the  right  arm,  he  fought  to  disadvantage,  and  was  slain.  The 
battle  being  over,  the  Moor  paused  to  possess  himself  of  the 
spoils  of  this  redoubtable  Christian  warrior.  When  he  un 
laced  the  helmet,  however,  and  beheld  the  countenance  of 
Don  Munio,  he  gave  a  great  cry,  and  smote  his  breast.  "  Woe 
is  me  !  "  cried  lie,  "  I  have  slain  my  benefactor  !  The  flowei 
of  knightly  virtue  !  the  most  magnanimous  of  cavaliers  ! " 


264  THE  ALHAMERA. 

While  the  battle  had  been  raging  on  the  plain  of  Salmanara, 
Dona  Maria  Palacin  remained  in  her  castle,  a  prey  to  the 
keenest  anxiety.  Her  eyes  were  ever  fixed  on  the  road  that 
led  from  the  country  of  the  Moors,  and  often  she  asked  the 
watchman  of  the  tower,  "  What  seest  thou  ?  " 

One  evening,  at  the  shadowy  hour  of  twilight,  the  warden 
sounded  his  horn.  "  I  see,"  cried  he,  "  a  numerous  train  wind 
ing  up  the  valley.  There  are  mingled  Moors  and  Christians. 
The  banner  of  my  lord  is  in  the  advance.  Joyful  tidings  !  " 
exclaimed  the  old  seneschal :  "  my  lord  returns  in  triumph, 
and  brings  captives  !  "  Then  the  castle  courts  rang  with  shouts 
of  joy  ;  and  the  standard  was  displayed,  and  the  trumpets  were 
sounded,  and  the  draw-bridge  was  lowered,  and  Dona  Maria 
went  forth  with  her  ladies,  and  her  knights,  and  her  pages, 
and  her  minstrels,  to  welcome  her  lord  from  the  wars.  But  as 
the  train  drew  nigh,  she  beheld  a  sumptuous  bier,  covered 
with  black  velvet,  and  on  it  lay  a  warrior,  as  if  taking  his 
repose  :  he  lay  in  his  armor,  with  his  helmet  on  his  head,  and 
his  sword  in  his  hand,  as  one  who  had  never  been  conquered, 
and  around  the  bier  were  the  escutcheons  of  the  house  of 
Hinojosa. 

A  number  of  Moorish  cavaliers  attended  the  bier,  with  em 
blems  of  mourning,  and  with  dejected  countenances ;  and  their 
leader  cast  himself  at  the  feet  of  Dona  Maria,  and  hid  his  face 
in  his  hands.  She  beheld  in  him  the  gallant  Abadil,  whom 
she  had  once  welcomed  with  his  bride  to  her  castle  ;  but  who 
now  came  with  the  body  of  her  lord,  whom  he  had  unknow 
ingly  slain  in  battle  ! 

The  sepulchre  erected  in  the  cloisters  of  the  convent  of  San 
Domingo,  was  achieved  at  the  expense  of  the  Moor  Abadil,  as 
a  feeble  testimony  of  his  grief  for  the  death  of  the  good  knight 
Don  Munio,  and  his  reverence  for  his  memory.  The  tender 
and  faithful  Dona  Maria  soon  followed  her  lord  to  the  tomb. 
On  one  of  the  stones  of  a  small  arch,  beside  his  sepulchre,  is  the 
following  simple  inscription  :  "  Hicjacet  Maria  Palacin,  uxor 
Munonis  Sancij  De  Finojosa :  "  Here  lies  Maria  Palacin,  wife 
of  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa. 

The  legend  of  Don  Munio  Sancho  does  not  conclude  with 
his  death.  On  the  same  day  on  which  the  battle  took  place 
on  the  plain  of  Salmanara,  a  chaplain  of  the  Holy  Temple  at 
Jerusalem,  while  standing  at  the  outer  gate,  beheld  a  train  of 
Christian  cavaliers  advancing,  as  if  in  pilgrimage.  The  chaplain 
was  a  native  of  Spain,  and  as  the  pilgrims  approached,  he  knew 


POETS  AND  POETRY  OF  MOSLEM  ANDALUS.      265 

the  foremost  to  be  Don  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa,  with  whom 
he  had  been  well  acquainted  in  former  times.  Hastening  to 
the  patriarch,  he  told  him  of  the  honorable  rank  of  the  pilgrims 
at  the  gate.  The  patriarch,  therefore,  went  forth  with  a  grand 
procession  of  priests  and  monks,  and  received  the  pilgrims 
with  all  due  honor.  There  were  seventy  cavaliers,  beside  their 
leader,  all  stark  and  lofty  warriors.  They  carried  their  helmets 
in  their  hands,  and  their  faces  were  deadly  pale.  They  greeted 
no  one,  nor  looked  either  to  the  right  or  to  the  left,  but  entered 
the  chapel,  and  kneeling  before  the  sepulchre  of  our  Saviour, 
performed  their  orisons  in  silence.  When  they  had  concluded, 
they  rose  as  if  to  depart,  and  the  patriarch  and  his  attendants 
advanced  to  speak  to  them,  but  they  were  no  more  to  be  seen. 
Every  one  marvelled  what  could  be  the  meaning  of  this  prodigy. 
The  patriarch  carefully  noted  down  the  day,  and  sent  to  Castile 
to  learn  tidings  of  Don  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa.  He  re 
ceived  for  reply,  that  on  the  very  day  specified,  that  worthy 
knight,  with  seventy  of  his  followers,  had  been  slain  in  battle. 
These,  therefore,  must  have  been  the  blessed  spirits  of  those 
Christian  warriors,  come  to  fulfil  their  vow  of  pilgrimage  to 
the  Holy  Sepulchre  at  Jerusalem.  Such  was  Castilian  faith, 
in  the  olden  time,  which  kept  its  word,  even  beyond  the  grave. 

If  any  one  should  doubt  of  the  miraculous  apparition  of 
these  phantom  knights,  let  him  consult  the  History  of  the 
Kings  of  Castile  and  Leon,  by  the  learned  and  pious  Fray 
Prudencio  de  Sandoval,  bishop  of  Pamplona,  where  he  will 
find  it  recorded  in  the  History  of  king  Don  Alonzo  VI.,  on  the 
hundred  and  second  page.  It  is  too  precious  a  legend  to  be 
lightly  abandoned  to  the  doubter. 


POETS   AND  POETRY   OF  MOSLEM   ANDALUS. 

DURING  the  latter  part  of  my  sojourn  in  the  Alhambra  I  was 
more  than  once  visited  by  the  Moor  of  Tetuan,  with  whom  I 
took  great  pleasure  in  rambling  through  the  halls  and  courts, 
and  getting  him  to  explain  to  me  the  Arabic  inscriptions.  He 
endeavored  to  do  so  faithfully ;  but,  though  he  succeeded  in 
giving  me  the  thought,  he  despaired  of  imparting  an  idea  of 
the  grace  and  beauty  of  the  language.  The  aroma  of  the 
poetry,  said  he,  is  all  lost  in  translation.  Enough  was  im 
parted,  however,  to  increase  the  stock  of  my  delightful  asso- 


266  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

ciations  with  this  extraordinary  pile.  Perhaps  there  never 
was  a  monument  more  characteristic  of  an  age  and  people 
than  the  Alhambra;  a  rugged  fortress  Avithout,  a  voluptuous 
palace  within  ;  war  frowning  from  its  battlements ;  poetry 
breathing  throughout  the  fairy  architecture  of  its  halls.  One 
is  irresistibly  transported  in  imagination  to  those  times  when 
Moslem  Spain  was  a  region  of  light  amid  Christian,  yet  be 
nighted  Europe  ;  externally  a  warrior  power  fighting  for  exist 
ence  ;  internally  a  realm  devoted  to  literature,  science,  and 
the  arts ;  where  philosophy  was  cultivated  with  passion, 
though  wrought  up  into  subtleties  and  refinements  ;  and  where 
the  luxuries  of  sense  were  transcended  by  those  of  thought 
and  imagination. 

Arab  poetry,  we  are  told,  arrived  at  its  highest  splendor 
under  the  Ommiades  of  Spain,  who  for  a  long  time  centred 
the  power  and  splendor  of  the  western  Caliphat  at  Cordova. 
Most  of  the  sovereigns  of  that  brilliant  line  were  themselves 
poets.  One  of  the  last  of  them  was  Mahomed  ben  Abderahman. 
He  led  the  life  of  a  Sybarite  in  the  famous  palace  and  gardens 
of  Azahara,  surrounding  himself  with  all  that  could  excite 
the  imagination  and  delight  the  senses.  His  palace  was  the 
resort  of  poets.  His  vizier,  Ibn  Zeydun,  was  called  the 
Horace  of  Moslem  Spain,  from  his  exquisite  verses,  which 
were  recited  with  enthusiasm  even  in  the  saloons  of  the 
Eastern  Caliphs.  The  vizier  became  passionately  enamoured 
of  the  princess  Walada,  daughter  of  Mahomed.  She  was  the 
idol  of  her  father's  court,  a  poetess  of  the  highest  order,  and 
renowned  for  beauty  as  well  as  talent.  If  Ibn  Zeydun  was 
the  Horace  of  Moslem  Spain,  she  was  its  Sappho.  The  prin 
cess  became  the  subject  of  the  vizier's  most  impassioned 
verses  ;  especially  of  a  famous  risaleh  or  epistle  addressed  to 
her,  which  the  historian  Ash-Shakandi  declares  has  never 
been  equalled  for  tenderness  and  melancholy.  Whether  the 
poet  was  happy  in  his  love,  the  authors  I  have  consulted  do 
not  say ;  but  one  intimates  that  the  princess  was  discreet  as 
she  was  beautiful,  and  caused  many  a  lover  to  sigh  in  vain. 
In  fact,  the  reign  of  love  and  poetry  in  the  delicious  abode  of 
Zahara,  was  soon  brought  to  a  close  by  a  popular  insurrection. 
Mahomed  with  his  family  took  refuge  in  the  fortress  of 
Ucles,  near  Toledo,  where  he  was  treacherously  poisoned  by  the 
Alcayde  ;  and  thus  perished  one  of  the  last  of  the  Ommiades. 
The  downfall  of  that  brilliant  dynasty,  which  had  concen 
trated  everything  at  Cordova,  was  favorable  to  the  general 
literature  of  Morisco  Spain. 


POETS  AND  POETRY  OF  MOSLEM  ANDALUS.     267 

"  After  the  breaking  of  the  necklace  and  the  scattering  of 
its  pearls,"  says  Ash-Shakandi,  "the  kings  of  small  states 
divided  among  themselves  the  patrimony  of  the  Beni  Om- 
miah." 

They  vied  with  each  other  in  filling  their  capitals  with 
poets  and  learned  men/  and  rewarded  them  with  boundless 
prodigality.  Such  were  the  Moorish  kings  of  Seville  of  the 
illustrious  line  of  the  Beni  Abdad,  "with  whom,"  says  the 
writer,  "  resided  fruit  and  palm-trees  and  pomegranates ;  who 
became  the  centre  of  eloquence  in  prose  and  verse  ;  every  day 
of  whose  reign  was  a  solemn  festivity  ;  whose  history  abounds 
in  generous  actions  and  heroic  deeds,  that  will  last  through 
surrounding  ages  and  live  forever  in  the  memory  of  man  ! " 

No  place,  however,  profited  more  in  point  of  civilization 
and  refinement  by  the  downfall  of  the  Western  Caliphat  than 
Granada.  It  succeeded  to  Cordova  in  splendor,  while  it  sur 
passed  it  in  romantic  beauty  of  situation.  The  amenity  of 
its  climate,  where  the  ardent  heats  of  a  southern  summer  were 
tempered  by  breezes  from  snow-clad  mountains ;  the  voluptu 
ous  repose  of  its  valleys  and  the  bosky  luxuriance  of  its 
groves  and  gardens  all  awakened  sensations  of  delight,  and 
disposed  the  mind  to  love  and  poetry.  Hence  the  great 
number  of  amatory  poets  that  flourished  in  Granada.  Hence 
those  amorous  canticles  breathing  of  love  and  war,  and  wreath 
ing  chivalrous  grace  round  the  stern  exercise  of  arms.  Those 
ballads  which  still  form  the  pride  and  delight  of  Spanish 
literature  are  but  the  echoes  of  amatory  and  chivalric  lays, 
which  once  delighted  the  Moslem  courts  of  Andalus ;  and  in 
which  a  modern  historian  of  Granada  pretends  to  find  the 
origin  of  the  rima  Castellana  and  the  type  of  the  "gay 
science  "  of  the  troubadours.1 

Poetry  was  cultivated  in  Granada  by  both  sexes.  "  Had 
Allah,"  says  Ash-Shakandi,  "bestowed  no  other  boon  on  Gra 
nada  than  that  of  making  it  the  birthplace  of  so  many  poet 
esses,  that  alone  would  be  sufficient  for  its  glory." 

Among  the  most  famous  of  these  was  Hafsah,  renowned, 
says  the  old  chronicler,  for  beauty,  talents,  nobility,  and  wealth. 
We  have  a  mere  relic  of  her  poetry  in  some  verses  addressed 
to  her  lover,  Ahmed,  recalling  an  evening  passed  together  in 
the  garden  of  Maumal. 

"Allah  has  given  us  a  happy  night,  such  as  he  never  vouch 
safes  to  the  wicked  and  the  ignoble.  We  have  beheld  the 

1  Miguel  Lafuente  Alcantara. 


268  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

cypresses  of  Maumal  gently  bowing  their  heads  before  the 
mountain  breeze, ; —  the  sweet  perfumed  breeze  that  smelt  of 
gillyflowers  :  the  dove  murmured  her  love  among  the  trees  ; 
the  sweet  basil  inclined  its  boughs  to  the  limpid  brook." 

The  garden  of  Maumal  was  famous  among  the  Moors  for  its 
rivulets,  its  fountains,  its  flowers,  and  above  all,  its  cypresses. 
It  had  its  name  from  a  vizier  of  Abdallah,  grandson  of  Aben 
Habuz,  and  Sultan  of  Granada.  Under  the  administration  of 
this  vizier  many  of  the  noblest  public  works  were  executed. 
He  constructed  an  aqueduct  by  which  water  was  brought  from 
the  mountains  of  Alfacar  to  irrigate  the  hills  and  orchards 
north  of  the  city.  He  planted  a  public  walk  with  cypress- 
trees,  and  "  made  delicious  gardens  for  the  solace  of  the  mel 
ancholy  Moors."  "  The  name  of  Maumal, "  says  Alcantara, 
"  ought  to  be  preserved  in  Granada  in  letters  of  gold."  Per 
haps  it  is  as  well  preserved  by  being  associated  with  the  garden 
he  planted  ;  and  by  being  mentioned  in  the  verses  of  Hafsah. 
How  often  does  a  casual  word  from  a  poet  confer  immortality. 

Perhaps  the  reader  may  be  curious  to  learn  something  of  the 
story  of  Hafsah  and  her  lover,  thus  connected  with  one  of  the 
beautiful  localities  of  Granada.  The  following  are  all  the 
particulars  I  have  been  able  to  rescue  out  of  the  darkness  and 
oblivion  which  have  settled  upon  the  brightest  names  and 
geniuses  of  Moslem  Spain. 

Ahmed  and  Hafsah  flourished  in  the  sixth  century  of  the 
Hegira  ;  the  twelfth  of  the  Christian  Era.  Ahmed  was  the 
son  of  the  Alcayde  of  Alcala  la  Real.  His  father  designed 
him  for  public  and  military  life  and  would  have  made  him 
his  lieutenant ;  but  the  youth  was  of  a  poetical  temperament, 
and  preferred  a  life  of  lettered  ease  in  the  delightful  abodes  of 
Granada.  Here  he  surrounded  himself  by  objects  of  taste  in 
the  arts,  and  by  the  works  of  the  learned  ;  he  divided  his  time 
between  study  and  social  enjoyment.  He  was  fond  of  the 
sports  of  the  field,  and  kept  horses,  hawks,  and  hounds.  He 
devoted  himself  to  literature,  became  renowned  for  erudition, 
and  his  compositions  in  prose  and  verse  were  extolled  for  their 
beauty,  and  in  the  mouths  of  every  one. 

Of  a  tender,  susceptible  heart,  and  extremely  sensible  to 
female  charms,  he  became  the  devoted  lover  of  Hafsah.  The 
passion  was  mutual,  and  for  once  the  course  of  true  love  ap 
peared  to  run  smooth.  The  lovers  were  both  young,  equal  in 
merit,  fame,  rank,  and  fortune,  enamoured  of  each  other's  genius 
as  well  as  person,  and  inhabiting  a  region  formed  to  be  a  realm 
of  love  and  poetry.  A  poetical  intercourse  was  carried  on 


POETS  AND   POETRY  OF  MOSLEM  ANDALUS.      269 

between  them  that  formed  the  delight  of  Granada.  They  were 
continually  interchanging  verses  and  epistles  ;  "  the  poetry  of 
which,"  says  the  Arabian  writer,  Al  Makkari,  "  was  like  the 
language  of  doves." 

In  the  height  of  their  happiness  a  change  took  place  in  the 
government  of  Granada.  It  was  the  time  when  the  Almo- 
hades,  a  Berber  tribe  of  Mount  Atlas,  had  acquired  the  control 
of  Moslem  Spain,  and  removed  the  seat  of  government  from 
Cordova  to  Morocco.  The  Sultan  Abdelmuman  governed  Spain 
through  his  Walls  and  Alcaydes ;  and  his  son,  Sidi  Abu  Said, 
was  made  Wall  of  Granada.  He  governed  in  his  father's  name 
with  royal  state  and  splendor,  and  with  despotic  sway.  Being 
a  stranger  in  the  country,  and  a  Moor  by  birth,  he  sought  to 
strengthen  himself  by  drawing  round  him  popular  persons  of 
the  Arab  race  ;  and  to  this  effect  made  Ahmed,  who  was  then 
in  the  zenith  of  his  fame  and  popularity,  his  vizier.  Ahmed 
would  have  declined  the  post,  but  the  Wall  was  peremptory. 
Its  duties  were  irksome  to  him,  and  he  spurned  at  its  restraint. 
On  a  hawking  party,  with  some  of  his  gay  companions,  he  gave 
way  to  his  poetic  vein,  exulting  in  his  breaking  away  from  the 
thraldom  of  a  despotic  master  like  a  hawk  from  the  jesses  of 
the  falconer,  to  follow  the  soaring  impulses  of  his  soul. 

His  words  were  repeated  to  Sidi  Abu  Said.  "  Ahmed,  "  said 
the  informant,  "spurns  at  restraint  and  scoffs  at  thy  author 
ity."  The  poet  was  instantly  dismissed  from  office.  The  loss 
of  an  irksome  post  was  no  grievance  to  one  of  his  joyous  tem 
perament  ;  but  he  soon  discovered  the  real  cause  of  his  removal. 
The  Wall  was  his  rival.  He  had  seen  and  become  enamoured 
of  Hafsah.  What  was  worse,  Hafsah  was  dazzled  with  the 
conquest  she  had  made. 

For  a  time  Ahmed  treated  the  matter  with  ridicule  ;  and  ap 
pealed  to  the  prejudice  existing  between  the  Arab  and  Moorish 
races.  Sidi  Abu  Said  was  of  a  dark  olive  complexion.  "  How 
canst  thou  endure  that  black  man  ?  "  said  he.  scornfully.  "  By 
Allah,  for  twenty  dinars  I  can  buy  thee  a  better  than  he  in  the 
slave  market." 

The  scoff  reached  the  ears  of  Sidi  Abu  Said  and  rankled  in 
his  heart. 

At  other  times.  Ahmed  gave  way  to  grief  and  tenderness, 
recalling  pa^t  scenes  of  happiness,  reproaching  Hafsah  with 
her  inconstancy,  and  warning  her  in  despairing  accents  that 
she  would  be  the  cause  of  his  death.  His  words  were  unheeded. 
The  idea  of  having  the  son  of  the  Sultan  for  a  lover  had  cap 
tivated  the  imagination  of  the  poetess. 


270  THE   ALHAMBEA. 

Maddened  by  jealousy  and  despair,  Ahmed  joined  in  a  con 
spiracy  against  the  ruling  dynasty.  It  was  discovered,  and 
the  conspirators  fled  from  Granada.  Some  escaped  to  a  castle 
on  the  mountains,  Ahmed  took  refuge  in  Malaga,  where  he 
concealed  himself,  intending  to  embark  for  Valencia.  He  was 
discovered,  loaded  with  chains  and  thrown  into  a  dungeon,  to 
abide  the  decision  of  Sidi  Abu  Said. 

He  was  visited  in  prison  by  a  nephew,  who  has  left  on  rec 
ord  an  account  of  the  interview.  The  youth  was  moved  to 
tears  at  seeing  his  illustrious  relative,  late  so  prosperous  and 
honored,  fettered  like  a  malefactor. 

"  Why  dost  thou  weep  ?  "  said  Ahmed.  "  Are  these  tears 
shed  for  me  ?  For  me,  who  have  enjoyed  all  that  the  world 
could  give  ?  Weep  not  for  me.  I  have  had  my  share  of  hap 
piness  ;  banqueted  on  the  daintiest  fare  ;  quaffed  out  of  crystal 
cups  ;  slept  on  beds  of  down  ;  been  arrayed  in  the  richest  silks 
and  brocades ;  ridden  the  fleetest  steeds ;  enjoyed  the  loves  of 
the  fairest  maidens.  Weep  not  for  me.  My  present  reverse 
is  but  the  inevitable  course  of  fate.  I  have  committed  acts 
which  render  pardon  hopeless.  I  must  await  my  punish 
ment." 

His  presentiment  was  correct.  The  vengeance  of  Sidi  Abu 
Said  was  only  to  be  satisfied  by  the  blood  of  his  rival,  and 
the  unfortunate  Ahmed  was  beheaded  at  Malaga,  in  the  month 
Jumadi,  in  the  year  559  of  the  Hegira  (April,  1164).  When 
the  news  was  brought  to  the  fickle-hearted  Hafsah,  she  was 
struck  with  sorrow  and  remorse,  and  put  on  mourning ;  re 
calling  his  warning  words,  and  reproaching  herself  with  being 
the  cause  of  his  death. 

Of  the  after  fortunes  of  Hafsah  I  have  no  further  trace  than 
that  she  died  in  Morocco,  in  1184.  outliving  both  her  lovers, 
for  Sidi  Abu  Said  died  in  Morocco  of  the  plague  in  1175.  A 
memorial  of  his  residence  in  Granada  remained  in  a  palace 
which  he  built  on  the  banks  of  the  Xenil.  The  garden  of 
Maumal,  the  scene  of  the  early  lives  of  Ahmed  and  Hafsah,  is 
no  longer  in  existence.  Its  site  may  be  found  by  the  anti 
quary  in  poetical  research.1 

1  The  authorities  for  the  foregoing,  Alcantara,  Hist.  Granada.  AI  Makkari,  Hist. 
Mohamed.  Dynasties  in  Spain,  B.  ii.,  c.  3.  Notes  and  illustrations  of  the  same,  by 
Gayangos,  v.  1.,  P.  440.  Ibnu  Al  Kahttib,  Biograph.  Die.,  cited  by  Gayangos. 
Conde  Hist.  Dom.  Arab. 


AN  EXPEDITION  IN  QUEST  OF  A  DIPLOMA.      271 


AN  EXPEDITION   IN  QUEST  OF  A   DIPLOMA. 

ONE  of  the  most  important  occurrences  in  the  domestic  life 
of  the  Alhambra,  was  the  departure  of  Manuel,  the  nephew  of 
Dona  Antonia,  for  Malaga,  to  stand  examination  as  a  physi 
cian.  I  have  already  informed  the  reader  that,  on  his  success 
in  obtaining  a  degree  depended  in  a  great  measure  the  union 
and  future  fortunes  of  himself  and  his  cousin  Dolores ;  at 
least  so  I  was  privately  informed  by  Mateo  Ximenes,  and 
various  circumstances  concurred  to  corroborate  his  informa 
tion.  Their  courtship,  however,  was  carried  on  very  quietly 
and  discreetly,  and  I  scarce  think  I  should  have  discovered  it, 
if  I  had  not  been  put  on  the  alert  by  the  all-observant 
Mateo. 

In  the  present  instance,  Dolores  was  less  on  the  reserve, 
and  had  busied  herself  for  several  days  in  fitting  out  honest 
Manuel  for  his  expedition.  All  his  clothes  had  been  arranged 
and  packed  in  the  neatest  order,  and  above  all  she  had  worked 
a  smart  Andalusian  travelling  jacket  for  him  with  her  own 
hands.  On  the  morning  appointed  for  his  departure,  a  stout 
mule  on  which  he  was  to  perform  the  journey  was  paraded  at 
the  portal  of  the  Alhambra,  and  Tio  Polo  (Uncle  Polo),  an 
old  invalid  soldier,  attended  to  caparison  him.  This  veteran 
was  one  of  the  curiosities  of  the  place.  He  had  a  leathern 
lantern  visage,  tanned  in  the  tropics,  a  long  Roman  nose,  and 
a  black  beetle  eye.  I  had  frequently  observed  him  reading, 
apparently  with  intense  interest,  an  old  parchment-bound 
volume  ;  sometimes  he  would  be  surrounded  by  a  group  of  his 
brother  invalids ;  some  seated  on  the  parapets,  some  lying  on 
the  grass,  listening  with  fixed  attention,  while  he  read  slowly 
and  deliberately  out  of  his  favorite  work,  sometimes  pausing 
to  explain  or  expound  for  the  benefit  of  his  less  enlightened 
auditors. 

I  took  occasion  one  day  to  inform  myself  of  this  ancient 
book,  which  appeared  to  be  his  vade  mecum,  and  found  it  to 
be  an  odd  volume  of  the  works  of  Padre  Benito  Geronymo 
Feyjoo  ;  and  that  one  which  treats  about  the  Magic  of  Spain, 
the  mysterious  caves  of  Salamanca  and  Toledo,  the  Purgatory 
of  San  Patricio  (St.  Patrick),  and  other  mystic  subjects  of  the 
kind.  From  that  time  I  kept  my  eye  upon  the  veteran. 

On  the  present  occasion,  I  amused  myself  with  watching 
him  fit  out  the  steed  of  Manuel  with  all  the  forecast  of  an  old 


272  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

campaigner.  First,  he  took  a  considerable  time  in  adjusting 
to  the  back  of  the  mule  a  cumbrous  saddle  of  antique  fashion, 
high  in  front  and  behind,  with  Moorish  stirrups  like  shovels ; 
the  whole  looking  like  a  relic  of  the  old  armory  of  the  Alham- 
bra ;  then  a  fleecy  sheep-skin  was  accommodated  to  the  deep 
seat  of  the  saddle ;  then  a  maleta,  neatly  packed  by  the  hand 
of  Dolores,  was  buckled  behind;  then  a  manta  was  thrown 
over  it  to  serve  either  as  cloak  or  couch ;  then  the  all-impor 
tant  alforjas,  carefully  stocked  with  provant,  were  hung  in 
front,  together  with  the  bota,  or  leathern  bottle  for  either 
wine  or  water,  and  lastly  the  trabuco,  which  the  old  soldier 
slung  behind,  giving  it  his  benediction.  It  was  like  the  fit 
ting  out  in  old  times  of  a  Moorish  cavalier  for  a  foray  or  a 
joust  in  the  Vivarrambla.  A  number  of  the  lazzaroni  of  the 
fortress  had  gathered  round,  with  some  of  the  invalids,  all 
looking  on,  all  offering  their  aid,  and  all  giving  advice,  to  the 
great  annoyance  of  Tio  Polo. 

When  all  was  ready  Manuel  took  leave  of  the  household ; 
Tio  Polo  held  his  stirrup  while  he  mounted  ;  adjusted  the 
girths  and  saddle,  and  cheered  him  off  in  military  style  ;  then 
turning  to  Dolores,  who  stood  admiring  her  cavalier  as  he 
trotted  off  ;  "  Ah  Dolorocita,"  exclaimed  he,  with  a  nod  and  a 
wink,  "  es  muy  guapo  Manuelito  in  su  xagueta"  (Ah  Dolores. 
Manuel  is  mighty  fine  in  his  jacket.)  The  little  damsel 
blushed  and  laughed,  and  ran  into  the  house. 

Days  elapsed  without  tidings  from  Manuel,  though  he  had 
promised  to  write.  The  heart  of  Dolores  began  to  misgive 
her.  Had  anything  happened  to  him  on  the  road  ?  Had  he 
failed  in  his  examination  ?  A  circumstance  occurred  in  her 
little  household  to  add  to  her  uneasiness  and  fill  her  mind 
with  foreboding.  It  was  almost  equal  to  the  escapade  of  her 
pigeon.  Her  tortoise-shell  cat  eloped  at  night  and  clambered 
to  the  tiled  roof  of  the  Alhambra.  In  the  dead  of  the  night 
there  was  a  fearful  caterwauling;  some  grimalkin  was  un 
civil  to  her  ;  then  there  was  a  scramble ;  then  a  clapper-claw 
ing  ;  then  both  parties  rolled  off  the  roof  and  tumbled  from  a 
great  height  among  the  trees  on  the  hillside.  Nothing  more 
was  seen  or  heard  of  the  fugitive,  and  poor  Dolores  consid 
ered  it  but  the  prelude  to  greater  calamities. 

At  the  end  of  ten  days,  however,  Manuel  returned  in  tri 
umph,  duly  authorized  to  kill  or  cure  ;  and  all  Dolores'  cares 
were  over.  There  was  a  general  gathering  in  the  evening,  of 
the  humble  friends  and  hangers-on  of  Dame  Antonio,  to  con 
gratulate  her,  and  to  pay  their  respects  to  el  Senor  Medico,  who, 


THE  LEGEND   OF  THE  ENCHANTED    SOLDIER.     273 

perad venture,  at  some  future  day,  might  have  all  their  lives 
in  his  hands.  One  of  the  most  important  of  these  guests  was 
old  Tio  Polo ;  and  I  gladly  seized  the  occasion  to  prosecute 
my  acquaintance  with  him.  "  Oh  Senor,"  cried  Dolores,  "  you 
who  are  so  eager  to  learn  all  the  old  histories  of  the  Alhain- 
bra.  Tio  Polo  knows  more  about  them  than  any  one  else 
about  the  place.  More  than  Mateo  Ximenes  and  his  whole 
family  put  together.  Vaya  —  Vaya  —  Tio  Polo,  tell  the 
Senor  all  those  stories  you  told  us  one  evening,  about  en 
chanted  Moors,  and  the  haunted  bridge  over  the  Darro,  and 
the  old  stone  pomegranates,  that  have  been  there  since  the 
days  of  King  Chico. 

It  was  some  time  befor-e  the  old  invalid  could  be  brought 
into  a  narrative  vein.  He  shook  his  head  —  they  were  all  idle 
tales ;  not  worthy  of  being  told  to  a  caballero  like  myself.  It 
was  only  by  telling  some  stories  of  the  kind  myself  I  at  last 
got  him  to  open  his  budget.  It  was  a  whimsical  farrago, 
partly  made  up  of  what  he  had  heard  in  the  Alhambra,  partly 
of  what  he  had  read  in  Padre  Feyjoo.  I  will  endeavor  to  give 
the  reader  the  substance  of  it,  but  I  will  not  promise  to 
give  it  in  the  very  words  of  Tio  Polo. 


THE   LEGEND   OF  THE  ENCHANTED   SOLDIER. 

EVERYBODY  has  heard  of  the  Cave  of  St.  Cyprian  at  Sala 
manca,  where  in  old  times  judicial  astronomy,  necromancy, 
chiromancy,  and  other  dark  and  damnable  arts  were  secretly 
taught  by  an  ancient  sacristan ;  or,  as  some  will  have  it,  by  the 
devil  himself,  in  that  disguise.  The  cave  has  long  been  shut 
up  and  the  very  site  of  it  forgotten  ;  though,  according  to  tra 
dition,  the  entrance  was  somewhere  about  where  the  stone 
cross  stands  in  the  small  square  of  the  seminary  of  Carvajal ; 
and  this  tradition  appears  in  some  degree  corroborated  by  the 
circumstances  of  the  following  story. 

There  was  at  one  time  a  student  of  Salamanca,  Don  Vicente 
by  name,  of  that  merry  but  mendicant  class,  who  set  out  on 
the  road  to  learning  without  a  penny  in  pouch  for  the  journey, 
and  who,  during  college  vacations,  beg  from  town  to  town  and 
village  to  village  to  raise  funds  to  enable  them  to  pursue  their 
studies  through  the  ensuing  term.  He  was  now  about  to  set 
forth  on  his  wanderings  ;  and  being  somewhat  musical,  slung 


274  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

on  his  back  a  guitar  with  which  to  amuse  the  villagers,  and 
pay  for  a  meal  or  a  night's  lodgings. 

As  he  passed  by  the  stone  cross  in  the  seminary  square,  he 
pulled  off  his  hat  and  made  a  short  invocation  to  St.  Cyprian, 
for  good  luck  ;  when  casting  his  eyes  upon  the  earth,  he  per 
ceived  something  glitter  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  On  picking 
it  up,  it  proved  to  be  a  seal  ring  of  mixed  metal,  in  which  gold 
and  silver  appeared  to  be  blended.  The  seal  bore  as  a  device 
two  triangles  crossing  each  other,  so  as  to  form  a  star.  This 
device  is  said  to  be  a  cabalistic  sign,  invented  by  king  Solo 
mon  the  wise,  and  of  mighty  power  in  all  cases  of  enchant 
ment  ;  but  the  honest  student,  being  neither  sage  nor  conjurer, 
knew  nothing  of  the  matter.  He  took  the  ring  as  a  present 
from  St.  Cyprian  in  reward  of  his  prayer ;  slipped  it  on  his 
finger,  made  a  bow  to  the  cross,  and  strumming  his  guitar,  set 
off  merrily  on  his  wandering. 

The  life  of  a  mendicant  student  in  Spain  is  not  the  most 
miserable  in  the  Avorld;  especially  if  he  has  any  talent  at 
making  himself  agreeable.  He  rambles  at  large  from  village 
to  village,  and  city  to  city,  wherever  curiosity  or  caprice  may 
conduct  him.  The  country  curates,  who,  for  the  most  part, 
have  been  mendicant  students  in  their  time,  give  him  shelter 
for  the  night,  and  a  comfortable  meal,  and  often  enrich  him 
with  several  quartos  or  half-pence  in  the  morning.  As  he 
presents  himself  from  door  to  door  in  the  streets  of  the  cities, 
he  meets  with  no  harsh  rebuff,  no  chilling  contempt,  for  there 
is  no  disgrace  attending  his  mendicity,  many  of  the  most 
learned  men  in  Spain  having  commenced  their  career  in  this 
manner ;  but  if,  like  the  student  in  question,  he  is  a  good- 
looking  varlet  and  a  merry  companion ;  and,  above  all,  if  he 
can  play  the  guitar,  he  is  sure  of  a  hearty  welcome  among 
the  peasants,  and  smiles  and  favors  from  their  wives  and 
daughters. 

In  this  way,  then,  did  our  ragged  and  musical  son  of  learn 
ing  make  his  way  over  half  the  kingdom  ;  with  the  fixed  de 
termination  to  visit  the  famous  city  of  Granada  before  his 
return.  Sometimes  he  was  gathered  for  the  night  into  the 
fold  of  some  village  pastor  ;  sometimes  he  was  sheltered  under 
the  humble  but  hospitable  roof  of  the  peasant.  Seated  at  the 
cottage  door  with  his  guitar,  he  delighted  the  simple  folk  with 
his  ditties  ;  or  striking  up  a  fandango  or  bolero,  set  the  brown 
country  lads  and  lasses  dancing  in  the  mellow  twilight.  In 
the  morning  he  departed  with  kind  words  from  host  and 
hostess,  and  kind  looks  and,  peradventure,  a  squeeze  of  the 
hand  from  the  daughter. 


THE  LEGEND   OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SOLDIER.      275 

At  length  he  arrived  at  the  great  object  of  his  musical  vaga 
bondizing,  the  far-famed  city  of  Granada,  and  hailed  with 
wonder  and  delight  its  Moorish  towers,  its  lovely  Vega  and 
its  snowy  mountains  glistening  through  a  summer  atmosphere. 
It  is  needless  to  say  with  what  eager  curiosity  he  entered  its 
gates  and  wandered  through  its  streets,  and  gazed  upon  its 
Oriental  monuments.  Every  female  face  peering  through  a 
window  or  beaming  from  a  balcony  was  to  him  a  Zorayda  or 
a  Zelinda,  nor  could  he  meet  a  stately  dame  on  .the  Alameda 
but  he  was  ready  to  fancy  her  a  Moorish  princess,  and  to 
spread  his  student's  robe  beneath  her  feet. 

His  musical  talent,  his  happy  humor,  his  youth  and  his  good 
looks,  won  him  a  universal  welcome  in  spite  of  his  ragged 
robes,  and  for  several  days  he  led  a  gay  life  in  the  old  Moorish 
capital  and  its  environs.  One  of  his  occasional  haunts  was 
the  fountain  of  Avellanos,  in  the  valley  of  the  Darro.  It  is 
one  of  the  popular  resorts  of  Granada,  and  has  been  so  since 
the  days  of  the  Moors  ;  and  here  the  student  had  an  oppor 
tunity  of  pursuing  his  studies  of  female  beauty ;  a  branch  of 
study  to  which  he  was  a  little  prone. 

Here  he  would  take  his  seat  with  his  guitar,  improvise  love- 
ditties  to  admiring  groups  of  majos  and  majas,  or  prompt  with 
his  music  the  ever  ready  dance.  He  was  thus  engaged  one 
evening,  when  he  beheld  a  padre  of  the  church  advancing,  at 
whose  approach  every  one  touched  the  hat.  He  was  evidently 
a  man  of  consequence ;  he  certainly  was  a  mirror  of  good  if 
not  of  holy  living ;  robust  and  rosy-faced,  and  breathing  at 
every  pore  with  the  warmth  of  the  weather  and  the  exercise 
of  the  walk.  As  he  passed  along  he  would  every  now  and 
then  draw  a  maravedi  out  of  his  pocket  and  bestow  it  on  a 
beggar,  with  an  air  of  signal  beneficence.  "Ah,  the  blessed 
father !  "  would  be  the  cry ;  "  long  life  to  him,  and  may  he 
soon  be  a  bishop  ! " 

To  aid  his  steps  in  ascending  the  hill  he  leaned  gently  now 
and  then  on  the  arm  of  a  handmaid,  evidently  the  pet  lamb 
of  this  kindest  of  pastors.  Ah,  such  a  damsel  !  Andalus  from 
head  to  foot :  from  the  rose  in  her  hair,  to  the  fairy  shoe  and 
lacework  stocking  ;  Andalus  in  every  movement;  in  every  un 
dulation  of  the  body  :  —  ripe,  melting  Andalus  !  —  But  then 
so  modest !  —  so  shy !  —  ever,  with  downcast  eyes,  listening  to 
the  words  of  the  padre  ;  or,  if  by  chance  she  let  flash  a  side 
glance,  it  was  suddenly  checked  and  her  eyes  once  more  cast 
to  the  ground. 

The  good  padre  looked  benignantly  on  the  company  about 


276  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

the  fountain,  ana  took  his  seat  with  some  emphasis  on  a  stone 
bench,  while  the  handmaid  hastened  to  bring  him  a  glass  of 
sparkling  water.  He  sipped  it  deliberately  and  with  a  relish, 
tempering  it  with  one  of  those  spongy  pieces  of  frosted  eggs 
and  sugar  so  dear  to  Spanish  epicures,  and  on  returning  the 
glass  to  the  hand  of  the  damsel  pinched  her  cheek  with  infinite 
loving  kindness. 

"Ah,  the  good  pastor!  "  whispered  the  student  to  himself; 
"  what  a  happiness  would  it  be  to  be  gathered  into  his  fold 
with  such  a  pet  lamb  for  a  companion  !  " 

But  no  such  good  fare  was  likely  to  befall  him.  In  vain  he 
essayed  those  powers  of  pleasing  which  he  had  found  so  irre 
sistible  with  country  curates  and  country  lasses.  Never  had 
he  touched  his  guitar  with  such  skill ;  never  had  he  poured 
forth  more  soul-moving  ditties,  but  he  had  no  longer  a  country 
curate  or  country  lass  to  deal  with.  The  worthy  priest  evi 
dently  did  not  relish  music,  and  the  modest  damsel  never 
raised  her  eyes  from  the  ground.  They  remained  but  a  short 
time  at  the  fountain ;  the  good  padre  hastened  their  return  to 
Granada.  The  damsel  gave  the  student  one  shy  glance  in 
retiring ;  but  it  plucked  the  heart  out  of  his  bosom  ! 

He  inquired  about  them  after  they  had  gone.  Padre  Tomas 
was  one  of  the  saints  of  Granada,  a  model*  of  regularity ; 
punctual  in  his  hour  of  rising;  his  hour  of  taking  a  paseo  for 
an  appetite ;  his  hours  of  eating  ;  his  hour  of  taking  his  siesta ; 
his  hour  of  playing  his  game  of  tresillo,  of  an  evening,  with 
some  of  the  dames  of  the  Cathedral  circle  ;  his  hour  of  sup 
ping,  and  his  hour  of  retiring  to  rest,  to  gather  fresh  strength 
for  another  day's  round  of  similar  duties.  He  had  an  easy 
sleek  mule  for  his  riding ;  a  matronly  housekeeper  skilled  in 
preparing  tid-bits  for  his  table  ;  and  the  pet  lamb,  to  smooth 
his  pillow  at  night  and  bring  him  his  chocolate  in  the  morn 
ing. 

Adieu  now  to  the  gay,  thoughtless  life  of  the  student ;  the 
side-glance  of  a  bright  eye  had  been  the  undoing  of  him.  Day 
and  night  he  could  not  get  the  image  of  this  most  modest 
damsel  out  of  his  mind.  He  sought  the  mansion  of  the  padre. 
Alas !  it  was  above  the  class  of  houses  accessible  to  a  strolling 
student  like  himself.  The  worthy  padre  had  no  sympathy 
with  him ;  he  had  never  been  Estudiante  sopista,  obliged  to 
sing  for  his  supper.  He  blockaded  the  house  by  day,  catching 
a  glance  of  the  damsel  now  and  then  as  she  appeared  at  a 
casement ;  but  these  glances  only  fed  his  flame  without  en 
couraging  his  hope.  He  serenaded  her  balcony  at  night,  and 


THE  LEGEND   OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SOLDIER.      277 

at  one  time  was  flattered  by  the  appearance  of  something  white 
at  a  window.  Alas,  it  was  only  the  nightcap  of  the  padre. 

Never  was  lover  more  devoted ;  never  damsel  more  shy : 
the  poor  student  was  reduced  to  despair.  At  length  arrived 
the  eve  of  St.  John,  when  the  lower  classes  of  Granada  swarm 
into  the  country,  dance  away  the  afternoon,  and  pass  mid 
summer's  night  on  the  banks  of  the  Darro  and  the  Xenil. 
Happy  are  they  who  on  this  eventful  night  can  wash  their 
faces  in  those  waters  just  as  the  Cathedral  bell  tells  midnight ; 
for  at  that  precise  moment  they  have  a  beautifying  power. 
The  student,  having  nothing  to  do,  suffered  himself  to  be  car 
ried  away  by  the  holiday-seeking  throng  until  he  found  him 
self  in  the  narrow  valley  of  the  Darro,  below  the  lofty  hill 
and  ruddy  towers  of  the  Alhambra.  The  dry  bed  of  the  river; 
the  rocks  which  border  it ;  the  terraced  gardens  which  over 
hang  it,  were  alive  with  variegated  groups,  dancing  under  the 
vines  and  tig-trees  to  the  sound  of  the  guitar  and  castanets. 

The  student  remained  for  some  time  in  doleful  dumps,  lean 
ing  against  one  of  the  huge  misshapen  stone  pomegranates 
which  adorn  the  ends  of  the  little  bridge  over  the  Darro.  He 
cast  a  wistful  glance  upon  the  merry  scene,  where  every  cava 
lier  had  his  dame ;  or,  to  speak  more  appropriately,  every 
Jack  his  Jill ;  sighed  at  his  own  solitary  state,  a  victim  to  the 
black  eye  of  the  most  unapproachable  of  damsels,  and  repined 
at  his  ragged  garb,  which  seemed  to  shut  the  gate  of  hope 
against  him. 

By  degrees  his  attention  was  attracted  to  a  neighbor  equally 
solitary  with  himself.  This  was  a  tall  soldier,  of  a  stern  as 
pect  and  grizzled  beard,  who  seemed  posted  as  a  sentry  at 
the  opposite  pomegranate.  His  face  was  bronzed  by  time; 
he  was  arrayed  in  ancient  Spanish  armor,  with  buckler  and 
lance,  and  stood  immovable  as  a  statue.  What  surprised  the 
student  was,  that  though  thus  strangely  equipped,  he  was 
totally  unnoticed  by  the  passing  throng,  albeit  that  many 
almost  brushed  against  him. 

"  This  is  a  city  of  old-time  peculiarities,"  thought  the  stu 
dent,  "and  doubtless  this  is  one  of  them  with  which  the  in 
habitants  are  too  familiar  to  be  surprised."  His  own  curiosity, 
however,  was  awakened,  and  being  of  a  social  disposition,  he 
accosted  the  soldier. 

'•'  A  rare  old  suit  of  armor  that  which  you  wear,  comrade. 
May  I  ask  what  corps  you  belong  to  ?  " 

The  soldier  gasped  out  a  reply  from  a  pair  of  jaws  which 
seemed  to  have  rusted  on  their  hinges. 


278  THE  ALHAMBBA. 

"  The  royal  guard  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella." 

"  Santa  Maria  !  Why,  it  is  three  centuries  since  that  corps 
was  in  service." 

"  And  for  three  centuries  have  I  been  mounting  guard. 
Now  I  trust  iny  tour  of  duty  draws  to  a  close.  Dost  thoii 
desire  fortune  ?  " 

The  student  held  up  his  tattered  cloak  in  reply. 

"  I  understand  thee.  If  thou  hast  faith  and  courage,  follow 
me,  and  thy  fortune  is  made." 

"  Softly,  comrade,  to  follow  thee  would  require  small  courage 
in  one  who  has  nothing  to  lose  but  life  and  an  old  guitar, 
neither  of  much  value  ;  but  my  faith  is  of  a  different  matter, 
and  not  to  be  put  in  temptation.  If  it  be  any  criminal  act  by 
which  I  am  to  mend  my  fortune,  think  not  my  ragged  cloak 
will  make  me  undertake  it." 

The  soldier  turned  on  him  a  look  of  high  displeasure.  "  My 
sword,"  said  he,  "has  never  been  drawn  but  in  the  cause  of 
the  faith  and  the  throne.  I  am  a  Cristiano  viejo,  trust  in  me 
and  fear  no  evil." 

The  student  followed  him  wondering.  He  observed  that  no 
one  heeded  their  conversation,  and  that  the  soldier  made  his 
way  through  the  various  groups  of  idlers  unnoticed,  as  if 
invisible. 

Crossing  the  bridge,  the  soldier  led  the  way  by  a  narrow 
and  steep  path  past  a  Moorish  mill  and  aqueduct,  and  up  the 
ravine  which  separates  the  domains  of  the  Generalife  from 
those  of  the  Alhambra.  The  last  ray  of  the  sun  shone  upon 
the  red  battlements  of  the  latter,  which  beetled  far  above ; 
and  the  convent  bells  were  proclaiming  the  festival  of  the 
ensuing  day.  The  ravine  was  overshadowed  by  fig-trees,  vines, 
and  myrtles,  and  the  outer  towers  and  walls  of  the  fortress. 
It  was  dark  and  lonely,  and  the  twilight-loving  bats  began  to 
flit  about.  At  length  the  soldier  halted  at  a  remote  and  ruined 
tower,  apparently  intended  to  guard  a  Moorish  aqueduct.  He 
struck  the  foundation  with  the  butt-end  of  his  spear.  A  rum 
bling  sound  was  heard,  and  the  solid  stones  yawned  apart, 
leaving  an  opening  as  wide  as  a  door. 

"  Enter  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity,"  said  the  soldier, 
"and  fear  nothing."  The  student's  heart  quaked,  but  he 
made  the  sign  of  the  cross,  muttered  his  Ave  Maria,  and  fol 
lowed  his  mysterious  guide  into  a  deep  vault  cut  out  of  the 
solid  rock  under  the  tower,  and  covered  with  Arabic  inscrip 
tions.  The  soldier  pointed  to  a  stone  seat  hewn  along  one 
side  of  the  vault.  "  Behold,"  said  he,  "  my  couch  for  three 


THE  LEGEND   OF   THE  ENCHANTED  SOLDIER.      279 

hundred  years."  The  bewildered  student  tried  to  force  a  joke. 
"  By  the  blessed  St.  Anthouy,"  said  he,  "  but  you  must  have 
slept  soundly,  considering  the  hardness  of  your  couch." 

"  On  the  contrary,  sleep  has  been  a  stranger  to  these  eyes  ; 
incessant  watchfulness  has  been  my  doom.  Listen  to  my  lot. 
I  was  one  of  the  royal  guards  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella ;  but 
was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Moors  in  one  of  their  sorties,  and 
confined  a  captive  in  this  tower.  When  preparations  were 
made  to  surrender  the  fortress  to  the  Christian  sovereigns,  I 
was  prevailed  upon  by  an  Alfaqui,  a  Moorish  priest,  to  aid 
him  in  secreting  some  of  the  treasures  of  Boabdil  in  this 
vault.  I  was  justly  punished  for  my  fault.  The  Alfaqui  was 
an  African  necromancer,  and  by  his  infernal  arts  cast  a  spell 
upon  me  —  to  guard  his  treasures.  Something  must  have 
happened  to  him,  for  he  never  returned,  and  here  have  I  re 
mained  ever  since,  buried  alive.  Years  and  years  have  rolled 
away  ;  earthquakes  have  shaken  this  hill ;  I  have  heard  stone 
by  stone  of  the  tower  above  tumbling  to  the  ground,  in  the 
natural  operation  of  time ;  but  the  spell-bound  walls  of  this 
vault  set  both  time  and  earthquakes  at  defiance. 

"  Once  every  hundred  years,  on  the  festival  of  St.  John,  the 
enchantment  ceases  to  have  thorough  sway ;  I  am  permitted 
to  go  forth  and  post  myself  upon  the  bridge  of  the  Darro, 
where  you  met  me,  waiting  until  some  one  shall  arrive  who 
may  have  power  to  break  this  magic  spell.  I  have  hitherto 
mounted  guard  there  in  vain.  I  walk  as  in  a  cloud,  con 
cealed  from  mortal  sight.  You  are  the  first  to  accost  me  for 
now  three  hundred  years.  I  behold  the  reason.  I  see  on  your 
finger  the  seal-ring  of  Solomon  the  wise,  which  is  proof  against 
all  enchantment.  With  you  it  remains  to  deliver  me  from 
this  awful  dungeon,  or  to  leave  me  to  keep  guard  here  for 
another  hundred  years." 

The  student  listened  to  this  tale  in  mute  wonderment.  He 
had  heard  many  tales  of  treasure  shut  up  under  strong  enchant 
ment  in  the  vaults  of  the  Alhambra,  but  had  treated  them  as 
fables.  He  now  felt  the  value  of  the  seal-ring,  which  had,  in 
a  manner,  been  given  to  him  by  St.  Cyprian.  Still,  though 
armed  by  so  potent  a  talisman,  it  was  an  awful  thing  to  find 
himself  tete-fo-tete  in  such  a  place  with  an  enchanted  soldier, 
who,  according  to  the  laws  of  nature,  ought  to  have  been 
quietly  in  his  grave  for  nearly  three  centuries. 

A  personage  of  this  kind,  however,  was  quite  out  of  the 
ordinary  run,  and  not  to  be  trifled  with,  and  he  assured  him  he 
might  rely  upon  his  friendship  and  good-will  to  do  every 
thing  in  his  power  for  his  deliverance. 


280  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

"I  trust  to  a  motive  more  powerful  than  friendship,"  said 
the  soldier. 

He  pointed  to  a  ponderous  iron  coffer,  secured  by  locks  in 
scribed  with  Arabic  characters.  "  That  coffer,"  said  he,  "  con 
tains  countless  treasure  in  gold  and  jewels,  and  precious  stones. 
Break  the  magic  spell  by  which  I  am  enthralled,  and  one-half 
of  this  treasure  shall  be  thine." 

"  But  how  am  I  to  do  it  ?  " 

"  The  aid  of  a  Christian  priest  and  a  Christian  maid  is  neces 
sary.  The  priest  to  exorcise  the  powers  of  darkness  ;  the 
damsel  to  touch  this  chest  with  the  seal  of  Solomon.  This 
must  be  done  at  night.  But  have  a  care.  This  is  solemn 
work,  and  not  to  be  effected  by  the  carnal-minded.  The  priest 
must  be  a  Cristiano  viejo,  a  model  of  sanctity  ;  and  must 
mortify  the  flesh  before  he  comes  here,  by  a  rigorous  fast 
of  four-and-twenty  hours  :  and  as  to  the  maiden,  she  must  be 
above  reproach,  and  proof  against  temptation.  Linger  not  in 
finding  such  aid.  In  three  days  my  furlough  is  at  an  end ;  if 
not  delivered  before  midnight  of  the  third,  I  shall  have  to 
mount  guard  for  another  century." 

"  Fear  not,"  said  the  student,  "  I  have  in  my  eye  the  very 
priest  and  damsel  you  describe  ;  but  how  am  I  to  regain  admis 
sion  to  this  tower  ?  " 

"  The  seal  of  Solomon  will  open  the  way  for  thee." 

The  student  issued  forth  from  the  tower  much  more  gayly 
than  he  had  entered.  The  wall  closed  behind  him,  and  re 
mained  solid  as  before. 

The  next  morning  he  repaired  boldly  to  the  mansion  of  the 
priest,  no  longer  a  poor  strolling  student,  thrumming  his  way 
with  a  guitar ;  but  an  ambassador  from  the  shadowy  world, 
with  enchanted  treasures  to  bestow.  No  particulars  are  told 
of  his  negotiation,  excepting  that  the  zeal  of  the  worthy  priest 
was  easily  kindled  at  the  idea  of  rescuing  an  old  soldier  of  the 
faith  and  a  strong  box  of  King  Chico  from  the  very  clutches 
of  Satan ;  and  then  what  alms  might  be  dispensed,  what 
churches  built,  and  how  many  poor  relatives  enriched  with 
the  Moorish  treasure ! 

As  to  the  immaculate  handmaid,  she  was  ready  to  lend  her 
hand,  which  was  all  that  was  required,  to  the  pious  work ;  and 
if  a  shy  glance  now  and  then  might  be  believed,  the  ambas 
sador  began  to  feel  favor  in  her  modest  eyes. 

The  greatest  difficulty,  however,  was  the  fast  to  which  the 
good  Padre  had  to  subject  himself.  Twice  he  attempted  it, 
and  twice  the  flesh  was  too  strong  for  the  spirit.  It  was  only 


THE  LEGEND   OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SOLDIER.       281 

on  the  third  day  that  he  was  enabled  to  withstand  the  tempta 
tions  of  the  cupboard ;  but  it  was  still  a  question  whether  he 
would  hold  out  until  the  spell  was  broken. 

At  a  late  hour  of  the  night  the  party  groped  their  way  up 
the  ravine  by  the  light  of  a  lantern,  and  bearing  a  basket 
with  provisions  for  exorcising  the  demon  of  hunger  so  soon  as 
the  other  demons  should  be  laid  in  the  Red  Sea. 

The  seal  of  Solomon  opened  their  way  into  the  tower.  They 
found  the  soldier  seated  on  the  enchanted  strong  box,  awaiting 
their  arrival.  The  exorcism  was  performed  in  due  style.  The 
damsel  advanced  and  touched  the  locks  of  the  coffer  with  the 
seal  of  Solomon.  The  lid  flew  open  ;  and  such  treasures  of 
gold  and  jewels  and  precious  stones  as  flashed  upon  the  eye  ! 

"  Here's  cut  and  come  again  !  "  cried  the  student,  exultingly, 
as  he  proceeded  to  cram  his  pockets. 

"  Fairly  and  softly,"  exclaimed  the  soldier.  "  Let  us  get  the 
coffer  out  entire,  and  then  divide." 

They  accordingly  went  to  work  with  might  and  main  ;  but 
it  was  a  difficult  task  ;  the  chest  was  enormously  heavy,  and 
had  been  imbedded  there  for  centuries.  While  they  were  thus 
employed  the  good  dominie  drew  on  one  side  and  made  a  vig 
orous  onslaught  on  the  basket,  by  way  of  exorcising  the  demon 
of  hunger  which  was  raging  in  his  entrails.  In  a  little  while 
a  fat  capon  was  devoured,  and  washed  down  by  a  deep  potation 
of  Valdepenas ;  and,  by  way  of  grace  after  meat,  he  gave  a 
kind-hearted  kiss  to  the  pet  lamb  who  waited  on  him.  It  was 
quietly  done  in  a  corner,  but  the  telltale  walls  babbled  it  forth 
as  if  in  triumph.  Never  was  chaste  salute  more  awful  in  its 
effects.  At  the  sound  the  soldier  gave  a  great  cry  of  despair ; 
the  coffer,  which  was  half  raised,  fell  back  in  its  place  and 
was  locked  once  more.  Priest,  student,  and  damsel,  found 
themselves  outside  of  the  tower,  the  wall  of  which  closed 
with  a  thundering  jar.  Alas  !  the  good  Padre  had  broken  his 
fast  too  soon ! 

When  recovered  from  his  surprise,  the  student  would  have 
re-entered  the  tower,  but  learned  to  his  dismay  that  the  dam 
sel  in  her  fright  had  let  fall  the  seal  of  Solomon  ;  it  remained 
within  the  vault. 

In  a  word,  the  cathedral  bell  tolled  midnight ;  the  spell  was 
renewed  ;  the  soldier  was  doomed  to  mount  guard  for  another 
hundred  years,  and  there  he  and  the  treasure  remain  to  this 
day  —  and  all  because  the  kind-hearted  Padre  kissed  his  hand 
maid.  "Ah  father!  father !"  said  the  student,  shaking  his 
head  ruefully,  as  they  returned  down  the  ravine,  "  I  fear  there 
was  less  of  the  saint  than  the  sinner  in  that  kiss  !  " 


282  THE  ALSAMBRA. 

Thus  ends  the  legend  as  far  as  it  has  been  authenticated. 
There  is  a  tradition,  however,  that  the  student  had  brought  off 
treasure  enough  in  his  pocket  to  set  him  up  in  the  world  ;  that 
he  prospered  in  his  affairs,  that  the  worthy  Padre  gave  him 
the  pet  lamb  in  marriage,  by  way  of  amends  for  the  blunder 
in  the  vault ;  that  the  immaculate  damsel  proved  a  pattern  for 
wives  as  she  had  been  for  handmaids,  and  bore  her  husband  a 
numerous  progeny  ;  that  the  first  was  a  wonder ;  it  was  born 
seven  months  after  her  marriage,  and  though  a  seven-months 
boy,  was  the  sturdiest  of  the  flock.  The  rest  were  all  born  in 
the  ordinary  course  of  time. 

The  story  of  the  enchanted  soldier  remains  one  of  the  pop 
ular  traditions  of  Granada,  though  told  in  a  variety  of  ways ; 
the  common  people  affirm  that  he  still  mounts  guard  on  mid 
summer  eve,  beside  the  gigantic  stone  pomegranate  on  the 
Bridge  of  the  Darro,  but  remains  invisible  excepting  to  such 
lucky  mortal  as  may  possess  the  seal  of  Solomon. 

NOTES  TO  THE  ENCHANTED  SOLDIER. 

Among  the  ancient  superstitions  of  Spain,  were  those  of  the  existence 
of  profound  caverns  in  which  the  magic  arts  were  taught,  either  by  the 
devil  in  person,  or  some  sage  devoted  to  his  service.  One  of  the  most 
famous  of  these  caves,  was  at  Salamanca.  Don  Francisco  de  Torreblanca 
makes  mention  of  it  in  the  first  book  of  his  work  on  Magic,  C.  2,  No.  4. 
The  devil  was  said  to  play  the  part  of  Oracle  there-;  giving  replies  to 
those  who  repaired  thither  to  propound  fateful  questions,  as  in  the  cele 
brated  cave  of  Trophonius.  Don  Francisco,  though  he  records  this  story, 
does  not  put  faith  in  it  :  he  gives  it  however  as  certain,  that  a  Sacristan, 
named  Clement  Potosi.  taught  secretly  the  magic  arts  in  that  cave.  Padre 
Feyjoo,  who  inquired  into  the  matter,  reports  it  as  a  vulgar  belief ,  that  the 
devil  himself  taught  those  arts  there  ;  admitting  only  seven  disciples  at  a 
time,  one  of  whom,  to  be  determined  by  lot,  was  to  be  devoted  to  him  body 
and  soul  forever.  Among  one  of  these  sets  of  students,  was  a  young  man, 
son  of  the  Marquis  de  Villena,  on  whom,  after  having  accomplished  his 
studies,  the  lot  fell.  He  succeeded  however,  in  cheating  the  devil  :  leaving 
him  his  shadow  instead  of  his  body. 

Don  Juan  de  Dios,  Professor  of  Humanities  in  the  University,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  last  century,  gives  the  following  version  of  the  story, 
extracted,  as  he  says,  from  an  ancient  manuscript.  It  will  be  perceived 
he  has  marred  the  supernatural  part  of  the  tale,  and  ejected  the  devil 
from  it  altogether. 

As  to  the  fable  of  the  Cave  of  San  Cyprian,  says  he,  all  that  we  have 
been  able  to  verify  is,  that  where  the  stone  cross  stands,  in  the  small  square 
or  place  called  by  the  name  of  the  Seminary  of  Carvajal.  there  was  the 
parochial  church  of  San  Cyprian.  A  descent  of  twenty  steps  led  down  to 
a  subterranean  Sacristy,  spacious  and  vaulted  like  a  cave.  Here  a  Sacristan 
once  taught  magic,  judicial  astrology,  geomancy,  hydromancy,  pyromancy, 
acromancy,  chiromancy,  necromancy,  etc. 

The  extract  goes  on  to  state  that  seven  students  engaged  at  a  time  with 


THE  LEGEND  OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SOLDIER.     283 

the  Sacristan,  at  a  fixed  stipend.  Lots  were  cast  among  them  which  one 
of  their  number  should  pay  for  the  whole,  with  the  understanding  that  he 
on  whom  the  lot  fell,  if  he  did  not  pay  promptly,  should  be  detained  in  a 
chamber  of  the  Sacristy  until  the  funds  were  forthcoming.  This  became 
thenceforth  the  usual  practice. 

On  one  occasion  the  lot  fell  on  Henry  de  Villena,  son  of  the  marquis  of 
the  same  name.  He  having  perceived  that  there  had  been  trick  and  shuf 
fling  in  the  casting  of  the  lot,  and  suspecting  the  Sacristan  to  be  cognizant 
thereof,  refused  to  pay.  He  was  forthwith  left  in  limbo.  It  so  happened, 
that  in  a  dark  corner  of  the  Sacristy  was  a  huge  jar  or  earthen  reservoir 
for  water,  which  was  cracked  and  empty.  In  this  the  youth  contrived  to 
conceal  himself.  The  Sacristan  returned  at  night  with  a  servant,  bringing 
lights  and  a  supper.  Unlocking  the  door,  they  found  no  one  in  the  vault, 
and  a  book  of  magic  lying  open  on  the  table.  They  retreated  in  dismay, 
leaving  the  door  open,  by  which  Villena  made  his  escape.  The  story  went 
about  that  through  magic  he  had  made  himself  invisible.  —  The  reader 
has  now  both  versions  of  the  story,  and  may  make  his  choice.  I  will  only 
observe  that  the  sages  of  the  Alhambra  incline  to  the  diabolical  one. 

This  Henry  de  Villena  flourished  in  the  time  of  Juan  II.,  King  of  Castile, 
of  whom  he  was  uncle.  He  became  famous  for  liis  knowledge  of  the 
Natural  Sciences  ;  and  hence,  in  that  ignorant  age  was  stigmatized  as  a 
necromancer.  Fernan  Perez  de  Guzman,  in  his  account  of  distinguished 
men,  gives  him  credit  for  great  learning,  but  says  he  devoted  himself  to 
the  arts  of  divination,  the  interpretation  of  dreams,  of  signs,  and  por 
tents. 

At  the  death  of  Villena,  his  library  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  King, 
who  was  warned  that  it  contained  books  treating  of  magic,  and  not  proper 
to  be  read.  King  Juan  ordered  that  they  should  be  transported  in  carts 
to  the  residence  of  a  reverend  prelate  to  be  examined.  The  prelate  was 
less  learned  than  devout.  Some  of  the  books  treated  of  mathematics, 
others  of  astronomy,  with  figures  and  diagrams,  and  planetary  signs  ; 
others  of  chemistry  or  alchemy,  with  foreign  and  mystic  words.  All  these 
were  necromancy  in  the  eyes  of  the  pious  prelate,  and  the  books  were  con 
signed  to  the  flames,  like  the  library  of  Don  Quixote. 


THE  SKAT,  OF  SOLOMON.  —  The  device  consists  of  two  equilateral  tri 
angles,  interlaced  so  as  to  form  a  star,  and  surrounded  by  a  circle.  Accord 
ing  to  Arab  tradition,  when  the  Most  High  gave  Solomon  the  choice  of 
blessings,  and  he  chose  wisdom,  there  came  from  heaven  a  ring,  on  which 
this  device  was  engraven.  This  mystic  talisman  was  the  arcanum  of  his 
wisdom,  felicity,  and  grandeur  ;  by  this  he  governed  and  prospered.  In 
consequence  of  a  temporary  lapse  from  virtue  he  lost  the  ring  in  the  sea, 
and  was  at  once  reduced  to  the  level  of  ordinary  men.  By  penitence  and 
prayer  he  made  his  peace  with  the  Deity,  was  permitted  to  find  his  ring 
again  in  the  belly  of  a  fish,  and  thus  recovered  his  celestial  gifts.  That 
he  might  not  utterly  lose  them  again,  he  communicated  to  others  the 
secret  of  the  marvellous  ring. 

This  symbolical  seal  we  are  told  was  sacrilegiously  used  by  the 
Mahometan  infidels  ;  and  before  them  by  the  Arabian  idolaters,  and  be 
fore  them  by  the  Hebrews,  for  "  diabolical  enterprises  and  abominable 
superstitions."  Those  who  wish  to  be  more  thoroughly  informed  on  the 
subject,  will  do  well  to  consult  the  learned  Father  Athanasius  Kirker's 
treatise  on  the  Cabala  Sarracenica. 


284  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

A  word  more  to  the  curious  reader.  There  are  many  persons  in  the^e 
sceptical  times,  who  affect  to  deride  everything  connected  with  the  occult 
sciences,  or  black  art  ;  who  have  no  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  conjurations, 
incantations  or  divinations  ;  and  who  stoutly  contend  that  such  things 
never  had  existence.  To  such  determined  unbelievers  the  testimony  of 
past  ages  is  as  nothing;  they  require  the  evidence" of  their  own  senses, 
and  deny  that  such  arts  and  practices  have  prevailed  in  days  of  yore, 
simply  because  they  meet  with  no  instance  of  them  in  the  present  day. 
They  cannot  perceive  that,  as  the  world  became  versed  in  the  natural 
sciences,  the  supernatural  became  superfluous  and  fell  into  disuse  ;  and 
that  the  hardy  inventions  of  art  superseded  the  mysteries  of  magic.  Still, 
say  the  enlightened  few,  those  mystic  powers  exist,  though  in  a  latent 
state,  and  untasked  by  the  ingenuity  of  man.  A  talisman  is  still  a  talis 
man,  possessing  all  its  indwelling  and  awful  properties  ;  though  it  may 
have  lain  dormant  for  ages  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  or  in  the  dusty 
cabinet  of  the  antiquary. 

The  signet  of  Solomon  the  Wise,  for  instance,  is  well  known  to  have 
held  potent  control  over  genii,  demons,  and  enchantments  ;  now  who  will 
positively  assert  that  the  same  mystic  signet,  wherever  it  may  exist, 
does  not  at  the  present  moment  possess  the  same  marvellous  virtues 
which  distinguished  it  in  the  olden  time  ?  Let  those  who  doubt  repair  to 
Salamanca,  delve  into  the  cave  of  San  Cyprian,  explore  its  hidden  secrets, 
and  decide.  As  to  those  who  will  not  be  at  the  pains  of  such  investiga 
tion,  let  them  substitute  faith  for  incredulity,  and  receive  with  honest 
credence  the  foregoing  legend. 


THE  AUTHOR'S  FAREWELL  TO  GRANADA. 

MY  serene  and  happy  reign  in  the  Alharnbra  was  suddenly 
brought  to  a  close  by  letters  which  reached  me,  while  indul 
ging  in  Oriental  luxury  in  the  cool  hall  of  the  baths,  summoning 
me  away  from  my  Moslem  elysium  to  mingle  once  more  in 
the  bustle  and  business  of  the  dusty  world.  How  was  I  to 
encounter  its  toils  and  turmoils,  after  such  a  life  of  repose 
and  revery !  How  was  I  to  endure  its  commonplace,  after 
the  poetry  of  the  Alhambra  ! 

But  little  preparation  was  necessary  for  my  departure.  A 
two-wheeled  vehicle,  called  a  tartan  a,  very  much  resembling 
a  covered  cart,  was  to  be  the  travelling  equipage  of  a  young 
Englishman  and  myself  through  Murcia,  to  Alicant  and 
Valencia,  on  our  way  to  France  ;  and  a  long-limbed  varlet,  who 
had  been  a  contr.ibandista,  and,  for  aught  I  knew,  a  robber, 
was  to  be  our  guide  and  guard.  The  preparations  were  soon 
made,  but  the  departure  was  the  difficulty.  Day  after  day 
was  it  postponed  ;  day  after  day  was  spent  in  lingering  about 
my  favorite  haunts,  and  day  after  day  they  appeared  more 
delightful  in  my  eyes. 


THE  AUTHOR'S  FAREWELL    TO   GRANADA.        285 

The  social  and  domestic  little  world  also,  iii  which  I  had 
been  moving,  had  become  singularly  endeared  to  me  ;  and  the 
concern  evinced  by  them  at  my  intended  departure,  convinced 
me  that  my  kind  feelings  were  reciprocated.  Indeed,  when 
at  length  the  day  arrived,  I  did  not  dare  venture  upon  a  leave- 
taking  at  the  good  dame  Autonia's ;  I  saw  the  soft  heart  of 
little  Dolores,  at  least,  was  brimfull  and  ready  for  an  over 
flow.  So  I  bade  a  silent  adieu  to  the  palace  and  its  inmates, 
and  descended  into  the  city,  as  if  intending  to  return.  There, 
however,  the  tartana  and  the  guide  were  ready ;  so,  after  tak 
ing  a  noonday's  repast  with  my  fellow  traveller  at  the  Posada, 
I  set  out  with  him  on  our  journey. 

Humble  was  the  cortege  and  melancholy  the  departure  of 
El  Rey  Chico  the  second !  Manuel,  the  nephew  of  Tia 
Antonia,  Mateo,  my  officious  but  now  disconsolate  squire,  and 
two  or  three  old  invalids  of  the  Alhambra  with  whom  I  had 
grown  into  gossiping  companionship,  had  come  down  to  see  me 
off ;  for  it  is  one  of  the  good  old  customs  of  Spain,  to  sally 
forth  several  miles  to  meet  a  coming  friend,  and  to  accompany 
him  as  far  on  his  departure.  Thus  then  we  set  out,  our  long- 
legged  guard  striding  ahead,  with  his  escopeta  on  his  shoulder ; 
Manuel  and  Mateo  on  each  side  of  the  tartana,  and  the  old 
invalids  behind.  At  some  little  distance  to  the  north  of 
Granada,  the  road  gradually  ascends  the  hills ;  here  I  alighted 
and  walked  up  slowly  with  Manuel  who  took  this  occasion  to 
confide  to  me  the  secret  of  his  heart  and  of  all  those  tender 
concerns  between  himself  and  Dolores,  with  which  I  had  been 
already  informed  by  the  all  knowing  and  all  revealing  Mateo 
Ximenes.  His  doctor's  diploma  had  prepared  the'  way  for 
their  union,  and  nothing  more  was  wanting  but  the  dispensa 
tion  of  the  Pope,  on  account  of  their  consanguinity.  Then,  if 
he  could  get  the  post  of  Medico  of  the  fortress,  his  happiness 
would  be  complete  !  I  congratulated  him  on  the  judgment 
and  good  taste  he  had  shown  in  his  choice  of  a  helpmate  ; 
invoked  all  possible  felicity  on  their  union,  and  trusted  that 
the  abundant  affections  of  the  kind-hearted  little  Dolores 
would  in  time  have  more  stable  objects  to  occupy  them  than 
recreant  cats  and  truant  pigeons. 

It  was  indeed  a  sorrowful  parting  when  I  took  leave  of 
these  good  people  and  saw  them  slowly  descend  the  hills  ;  now 
and  then  turning  around  to  wave  me  a  last  adieu.  Manuel, 
it  is  true,  had  cheerful  prospects  to  console  him,  but  poor 
Mateo  seemed  perfectly  cast  down.  It  was  to  him  a  grievous 
fall  from  the  station  of  prime  minister  and  historiographer,  to 


286  THE  ALHAMBRA. 

his  old  brown  cloak  and  his  starveling  mystery  of  ribbon- 
weaving;  and  the  poor  devil,  notwithstanding  his  occasional 
ofiiciousness,  had  somehow  or  other,  acquired  a  stronger  hold 
on  my  sympathies  than  I  was  aware  of.  It  would  have  really 
been  a  consolation  in  parting,  could  I  have  anticipated  the 
good  fortune  in  store  for  him,  and  to  which  I  had  contributed ; 
for  the  importance  I  had  appeared  to  give  to  his  tales  and 
gossip  and  local  knowledge,  and  the  frequent  companionship 
in  which  I  had  indulged  him  in  the  course  of  my  strolls,  had 
elevated  his  idea  of  his  own  qualifications  and  opened  a  new 
career  to  him  ;  and  the  son  of  the  Alhambra  has  since  become 
its  regular  and  well-paid  cicerone ;  insomuch  that  I  am  told 
he  has  never  been  obliged  to  resume  the  ragged  old  brown 
cloak  in  which  I  first  found  him. 

Towards  sunset  I  came  to  where  the  road  wound  into  the 
mountains,  and  here  I  paused  to  take  a  last  look  at  Granada. 
The  hill  on  which  I  stood  commanded  a  glorious  view  of  the 
city,  the  Vega,  and  the  surrounding  mountains.  It  was  at  an 
opposite  point  of  the  compass  from  La  cuesta  de  las  lagrimas 
(the  hill  of  tears)  noted  for  the  "  last  sigh  of  the  Moor."  I 
now  could  realize  something  of  the  feelings  of  poor  Boabdil 
when  he  bade  adieu  to  the  paradise  he  was  leaving  behind, 
and  beheld  before  him  a  rugged  and  sterile  road  conducting 
him  to  exile. 

The  setting  sun  as  usual  shed  a  melancholy  effulgence  on 
the  ruddy  towers  of  the  Alhambra.  I  could  faintly  discern 
the  balconied  window  of  the  tower  of  Comares,  where  I  had 
indulged  in  so  many  delightful  reveries.  The  bosky  groves 
and  gardens  about  the  city  were  richly  gilded  with  the  sun 
shine,  the  purple  haze  of  a  summer  evening  was  gathering 
over  the  Vega  ;  everything  was  lovely,  but  tenderly  and  sadly 
so,  to  my  parting  gaze. 

"  I  will  hasten  from  this  prospect,"  thought  I,  "  before  the 
sun  is  set.  I  will  carry  away  a  recollection  of  it  clothed  in 
all  its  beauty." 

With  these  thoughts  I  pursued  my  way  among  the  moun 
tains.  A  little  further  and  Granada,  the  Vega,  and  the  Al 
hambra,  were  shut  from  my  view;  and  thus  ended  one  of  the 
pleasantest  dreams  of  a  life  which  the  reader  perhaps  may 
think  has  been  but  too  much  made  up  of  dreams. 

THE    END. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

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